Chapter 198 The True Authentic Work

Imitation?

Hao Jun was stunned for a moment, and the woman's face fell.

Li Yu of the Qing Dynasty?

Never even heard of it...

The old man holding the walnut frowned: "Young man, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"

Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "Indeed, I'm young and don't eat as much as you do!"

The old man froze, his face turned pale instantly, and he opened his mouth to curse.

Lin Sicheng waved his hand again: "Old sir, Senior Brother Hao invited me to make the appraisal. Now that I've finished, of course I'll tell you the truth. As for whether I'm right or wrong, whether I'm just talking nonsense, should you wait until I finish speaking before you make a judgment?"

His face turned pale, then red, and the old man gritted his teeth: "Fine, you tell me!"

I can't give a clear answer; this matter isn't over yet.

"Okay, then I'll get to the point!"

Lin Sicheng nodded, pointing to the painting, "The Xuande paper from the Ming Dynasty, the old rosewood scroll from the Ming Dynasty, the pine soot ink from the Ming Dynasty, even the mounting is made of mature Xuan paper from the Ming Dynasty... but there's only one thing..."

After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng pointed to the seals: "These are Jiang Sixutang clay seals from the Suzhou and Hangzhou area during the mid-Qing Dynasty, which originated at the end of the Qianlong era. It's understandable that three collector's seals are made of this clay."

However, Cha Shibiao died in the 37th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, almost a hundred years before the Jiang Sixu Hall inkstone came into existence. So where did the inkstone used for the two seals on this painting come from?

The group of people were all stunned, and then moved forward again.

Those who study antiques generally know a little about ink paste, and have even heard of Jiang Sixutang ink paste from Suzhou and Hangzhou during the Qing Dynasty. But they can't really say what its specific characteristics are or how to distinguish it.

But they would look: whether it was Cha Shibiao's inscription or the three collector's seals below, there seemed to be no difference in color or texture.

What does this mean?

These five seals were all stamped at the same time.

However, Cha Shibiao died during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, and the ink used for the seal was produced after the reign of Emperor Qianlong. This alone is enough to prove that the painting is a forgery...

Taken aback, Lin Sicheng pointed to the blank space in the upper right corner of the painting: "Look closely, isn't the paper color a little dark here? It looks like it was improperly stored and got dirty?"

"Actually, no. There was originally an inscription here, but it was washed away... but we were afraid of ruining the Xuan paper, so we didn't wash it too hard, leaving a layer of ink..."

“And this…” Lin Sicheng pointed to the slender ribbon outside the painting, “Also made of Suzhou silk from the Qing Dynasty, but the craftsmanship and materials used in the Kangxi and Qianlong periods are clearly different…”

Then, Lin Sicheng straightened up: "There aren't many flaws, and they're not easy to spot with the naked eye, but there are so many scientific identification methods nowadays, a simple instrument can identify them..."

"Are the inkpads for the five seals from the same period and made of the same material? How many years have the paste on the scroll ends and the silk strips at the top and bottom been oxidized? Is it silk from the Kangxi or Qianlong period? A single examination will tell..."

The old expert opened his mouth, unable to speak.

He's paid to do someone's bidding; he was hired by the seller. If the buyer says it's a fake, whether it is or not, he'll definitely have to refute it.

He just said something a little too harsh, and that's why the kid gave him a piece of his mind?

The key point is that she left him speechless.

But how come this kid has such sharp eyes?

Putting everything else aside, he didn't even notice the tainted blank spaces, or the washed-out inscriptions.

He didn't pay attention to the five seals either; their colors and aging seemed identical.

It's not that he's not careful, but rather that he's too meticulous: things that have been preserved for hundreds of years, are a bit old, a bit dirty, and the colors of the ink pads from different periods are not much different, isn't that normal?

It wasn't just him; Hao Jun and Ye Anning also didn't pay much attention...

The group of people were stunned and speechless. Miss Wang stared at Lin Sicheng, looking him up and down.

She went to Beijing and spent a lot of money to have experts from the National Art Museum of China examine it. The conclusion was that it was a forgery. However, the experts only said that the seal was not quite right, and that it seemed to have been made during the same period, but they did not say what kind of clay was used.

As for the pollution in the blank spaces being caused by washing the inscription, and Li Yu, none of it was mentioned.

The key point is that this child took less than half the time of the expert…

Suddenly, she smiled and asked, "What is your surname?"

Lin Sicheng said expressionlessly, "His surname is Lin!"

"Teacher Lin has a good eye... May I ask another question: Who is Li Yu?"

"A painter from Dantu (Zhenjiang) during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty. He studied under Pan Gongshou, a famous master of the Jingjiang School (also known as the Dantu School), specializing in landscape painting and imitating Zha Shiqing..."

The woman's eyes lit up: "Also a famous artist?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "At that time, he was only slightly well-known in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, so there is basically no record of him in historical materials!"

If they're not even mentioned in historical records, what kind of famous person are they?

The woman's eyes dimmed again: "Then how much is this painting worth?"

Lin Sicheng replied without hesitation: "At most three to five thousand!"

The woman paused for a moment, then her face darkened.

From three to five million to three to five thousand, how many times is that difference?

And it's only "at most"...

She said thank you and rolled up the painting.

Hao Jun paused for a moment, then cursed, "That bitch clearly knows there's something wrong with this painting."

But isn't that how the antique business works: cheat if you can, deceive if you can?

While pondering this, the woman took the initiative to open the second long box.

The woman untied the ribbon, slowly unfolded the cloth, and then gestured for the woman to proceed.

Lin Sicheng glanced at it, his eyes flickering slightly: Another "Cloud and Mountain Landscape" painting?

It is the same ink wash landscape, the same strange peaks and sparse forests, the same flat river and rows of peaks.

Even the artistic conception and charm seem to be almost identical?

Upon closer inspection of the seal inscription, the large character "Xuanzai" in the upper left corner, along with the seal engraving of "Dong Qichang's Seal," comes into view.

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then leaned back slightly.

This Miss Wang seems to be able to predict the future: I had just thought of Dong Qichang, and in the blink of an eye, she took out a work by Dong Qichang.

To be honest, at first glance, it looks quite real.

Following the same procedure, first examine the material: the shaft is made of rosewood, which, whether from the Ming and Qing dynasties or in modern times, is more valuable than padauk. It is lightly carved with cloud patterns, its form simple yet elegant.

The patina is evenly distributed, and the wood color is understated and natural.

The paper is slightly darker, but this is due to oxidation. The original paper should be lighter in color than the Xuande paper of the Ming Dynasty, historically known as "light paper," which was particularly favored by Dong Qichang.

He even composed a poem in praise: "The smoothness of fish roe and pine blossoms, the slipperiness of jade being laid out and ice being struck..."

The four sides are made of fine plain silk, while the two ends (top and bottom) are made of light blue brocade, highlighting an understated yet luxurious feel. The overall style imitates the "Xuanhe mounting" style, emphasizing simplicity and elegance.

That is, "the painting should be the main focus, and the colors should not be overshadowed."

The mounting was done on raw Xuan paper from the Ming Dynasty, which perfectly matches Dong Qichang's sparse and light ink wash style. At this point, at least the mounting and the paper are fine.

Looking at the seal, although it is the only one in the entire painting, the carving technique is flexible, simple yet elegant, and solemn yet sincere... This is definitely a seal carved by Dong Qichang himself.

Let's look at the poem inscribed on it, Meng Haoran's "Staying Overnight at Jiande River":

I moor my boat at the misty islet, and as dusk falls, a new wave of homesickness washes over me. The wilderness is vast, the sky low, the trees sparse, the river clear, and the moon seems close to me.

The poem is good, and the calligraphy is good too.

Based on the central tip of the brush, the lines are like "drawing with a cone in sand," vigorous yet subtle. It also subtly reveals Mi Fu's brushwork of "no stroke without retraction, no movement without restraint," emphasizing "strength and momentum, and gentleness and rhythm."

The font is running-cursive, with characters linked together like silk threads, the brushstrokes flowing like water, and the characters tilted to take a precarious stance. It has both the "energy flow" that calligraphers talk about and the balance that is achieved in movement.

Most notably, Dong Qichang's unique calligraphic style of "using light ink on light paper" broke away from the traditional Ming dynasty practice of using dark ink, instead using light ink to express the artistic conception of "emptiness and tranquility" and "refinement within simplicity".

The overall composition is spacious and ethereal, serene and tranquil, yet it highlights a simple, unadorned, and natural charm, like "uncarved jade" and "seeking truth from the essence".

Putting the painting aside, let's just talk about the calligraphy: Lin Sicheng is 99% certain that this poem was definitely inscribed by Dong Qichang himself.

Looking at the painting again: the brushstrokes are restrained and subtle, yet lively and natural. The ink tones are clear, moist, and elegant, with distinct layers. Furthermore, it subtly reveals the essence of landscape painting by renowned Song and Yuan dynasty masters.

Dong Yuan's sparse woods and distant trees evoke a sense of vastness and seclusion. Ju Ran's light mist and haze create a refreshing and serene atmosphere. Ma Yuan's understated naturalness and simple elegance are complemented by Huang Gongwang's leisurely and ethereal beauty, and his tranquil and innocent charm is a testament to this.

Furthermore, calligraphy is incorporated into painting: the central brushstroke is used to outline the contours of mountains and rocks with the neat brushwork of regular script, and then the side brushstroke is used to add dots and strokes to branches, leaves and moss, adding dynamism.

It also emphasizes light ink, resulting in a clear, elegant, and subtle color. Furthermore, it uses techniques such as layering and breaking ink to present the subtle variations of "five colors of ink."

Seeing this, I feel... is this Dong Qichang's authentic work?

But Lin Sicheng always felt something was off.

After thinking for a moment, he turned the painting upside down, took a step back, and examined it closely while resting his chin on his hand.

The others were taken aback and looked at each other in bewilderment: Where did they learn to look at paintings upside down?

Not to mention that old expert and Hao Jun, Ye Anning, who came from the China Academy of Art and specializes in calligraphy and painting appreciation, has consulted countless famous people, but none of them had ever heard of this method.

Of course, she hadn't heard of it: it was the unique skill of Mr. Xu Bangda of the Palace Museum. When Ye Anning audited the class at the Palace Museum, the old man was already 85 years old and had long since retired.

So we should thank Mrs. Wang: Lin Sicheng followed Mr. Xu intermittently to learn painting, art appraisal and seal carving for a full three years.

Anyway, it's very clever.

Just now, Lin Sicheng took a closer look and actually noticed something. His eyes lit up with surprise, curiosity, and amusement.

He had seen many paintings of this type, but this was the first time he had seen a work by Dong Qichang.

Half true, half false; both true and false...

After looking at it again, Lin Sicheng turned the painting around and put the magnifying glass down.

Hao Jun's spirits lifted: "How is it?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and said, "It's alright!"

What does "it's alright" mean?

If you're not going to give a definitive conclusion, what kind of appraisal is this?

To say that Lin Sicheng was unable to speak about it is impossible. Firstly, given their relationship, and secondly, Lin Sicheng simply isn't that kind of person.

Hao Jun frowned: "Fake?"

"The painting is real!" Lin Sicheng said with certainty, but then shook his head: "But hold off for now!"

Hao Jun was completely confused: He could understand everything that was supposed to be understood, and Lin Sicheng's "slow down" meant that he should not accept it.

But then they say the painting is real... Isn't that a contradiction?

The old expert, who had been holding his breath, glared and said, "Young man, Miss Wang took this painting to Beijing and had it examined by experts at the National Academy of Painting. They said it was an authentic work by Dong Qichang."

Lin Sicheng smiled and asked, "Then why didn't Miss Wang sell it?"

The old man choked for a moment.

They could be sold, but the price would be too low. The reason is simple: the provenance is disordered.

Apart from Dong Qichang's inscription and seal, there is no other collector's seal, nor any inscription or postscript by the collector.

To put it more professionally: there are no historical anchors of authenticity, no continuity or influence of artistic concepts, no continuous carrier of the spirit of literati, and no contemporary reflection of the collecting ecosystem.

Furthermore, its artistic value has not been endorsed by the market in various eras.

Let alone Dong Qichang, even genuine works by Emperor Qianlong would have to be discounted. That's why the woman took the painting to Rongbaozhai.

If the offer is right, it would be best if Rongbaozhai accepted it. Even if they can't accept it, stamping it with their authentication seal would be acceptable.

Don't be surprised, Rongbaozhai really does offer this service: after authenticating a work, they will stamp it with a seal confirming its authenticity. The starting price is 100,000 yuan, and the final price depends on the market value of the painting. Basically, it's 100,000 yuan plus another 10%.

With Rongbaozhai's seal, it can be auctioned. Set a higher price, and after several auctions, it will eventually get authentication seals from major auction houses. Although it can't compare to a truly "certified collection," it at least has endorsement, and the price will be much higher.

Unlike now, where the highest bid is only around 800,000, the lowest auction price for a Dong Qichang landscape painting in recent years has been over 3 million…

Just as the old man was about to say something, the woman gently waved her hand.

He slowly straightened up, his hunched back pressed against Lin Sicheng, his eyes fixed on him with a mixture of suspicion and seriousness.

"Is the material used for the painting wrong?"

“All correct!” Lin Sicheng shook his head. “The scroll is correct, the silk is correct, the damask is correct. The paper, ink, oil, and inkpad are all correct.”

The woman pressed on: "Is the printing wrong, or the inscription wrong, or even the painting wrong?"

"The seal is correct; it was personally carved by Dong Qichang. The inscription is also correct; it is Dong Qichang's own handwriting. The painting is also considered correct; at least all the major art dealers recognize it."

Lin Sicheng paused, his tone softening slightly: "But Miss Wang, if I go into too much detail, you definitely won't feel comfortable. As the saying goes, even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. If they don't accept our services here, we can just go to another place. There's no need to make yourself unhappy..."

The woman's heart skipped a beat.

Is drawing considered correct?

There's no need to make yourself unhappy.

Doesn't that mean there's something wrong with the painting?

But women don't really believe it.

Because the old woman wasn't lying, she really went to Beijing to have an expert from the Chinese Painting Academy examine it, and the expert said it was an authentic work.

He even went to Baoli, Jiade, and Jingcheng Hanhai, all of which claimed it to be an authentic work.

She didn't consign it for auction simply because the estimated starting bids were too low.

The woman thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, took out her checkbook, and quickly filled out the forms.

The first "4" followed by four zeros equals a total of 40,000. This means that the appraisal fee for the previous piece, the one with the bidding mark, was also paid together.

But don't worry about the price.

If there's a problem with the item, Rongbaozhai will only say they won't accept it, but they won't tell you what the problem is. If you insist on asking, sorry: it's 20,000 yuan per item…

Lin Sicheng and Hao Jun exchanged a glance: They came to frame paintings, yet they managed to earn some pocket money?

Of the 40,000, Rongbaozhai takes 10%, while the commissioned contractor earns 90%...

After filling it out quickly, the woman pushed it forward and said, "Teacher Lin, I'd like to hear more details!"

Having received the money, Lin Sicheng naturally had to provide excellent service, and he did his utmost to fulfill this obligation.

"Miss Wang, to put it simply: this is a ghost painting. Someone else painted it, and then Dong Qichang stamped it with his seal and wrote a poem on it... and it's not just Miss Wang's painting."

I can say this: most of the Dong Qichang paintings circulating in the market today are of this type: painted by someone else, with Dong Qichang's inscription and seal..."

"According to Mr. Qi Gong's research alone, there were more than a dozen people in Dong Qichang's household who were his students, retainers, and servants, among whom were many famous artists: such as the landscape master Zhao Zuo, the famous Huating School artists Shen Shichong, Wu Zhen, Zhao Xingzhi, Ye Junshan, as well as the painter-monks Ke Xue and Yang Yanchong... and so on..."

"More than one ancient document records Dong Qichang's method of making money through assembly line operations and using fake and imitation materials."

"Jiang Shaoshu (a collector and scholar of the late Ming Dynasty, who rose to the position of Vice Minister of Works in Nanjing), in his *Yunshizhai Bitan*, Volume 2, 'The Remaining School of Calligraphers': Among the disciples of Yuanzai (Dong Qichang) was Wu Chuhou. Chuhou's original name was Qiao, later changed to Yi..."

When Dong Qichang was summoned by the Grand Chamberlain, he was weary of social obligations, so he asked the Marquis of Chu to write on his behalf. He still personally delivered the writings to those who requested them, and each left satisfied. The Marquis of Chu's residence was filled with piles of silk and paper, even more than the shelves of the Grand Secretary (Dong Qichang)..."

"Still Jiang Shaoshu, Volume 4 of 'The Silent History of Poetry': Zhao Zuo, courtesy name Wendu, was from Yunjian. His painting style was influenced by Dong Beiyuan, Huang Zijiu, and Ni Yunlin, surpassing the ancient and distant styles of Mi Fu and Ma Yuan... Most of the authentic works of Dong Qichang that are circulating in the market are by Wendu..."

"There is also Zhu Yizun's (a Qing Dynasty writer, collector, and epigrapher) 'Quatrains on Painting': Dong Wenmin (Dong Qichang) was exhausted from social engagements, so he often asked Zhao Wendu and Xue Gong (Seng Kexue) to write on his behalf, and personally wrote the inscriptions..."

"There is also Gu Fu's *Ping Sheng Zhuang Guan* (a record of calligraphy and painting connoisseurship) from the Qing Dynasty: My late father and Siweng were friends for twenty years, but I never saw him paint. His desk was piled high with silk, paper, and bamboo brushes, so he would call for brushes by Zhao Xing, Zhijiong, Ye Junshan, and other artists of varying ages..."

Weng (Dong Qichang) would inscribe poems, sign his name, and use his seal to give to those who sought his work… It is said that when Weng was middle-aged, many people from all over the country sought his work, so he had Zhao Wendu assist him in making copies. After Wendu's death, Junshan and Xingzhi continued the work, and genuine and fake works were mixed together… And there are still twenty or thirty such historical documents…”

Lin Sicheng pointed to the painting on the coffee table: "Let's talk about this one: the brushstrokes are restrained, the ink is light, the composition is natural, and the lines are lively. It is both leisurely and ethereal, and also reveals a simple and innocent nature."

Furthermore, he incorporated calligraphy into his painting, prioritizing light ink washes, employing both layered and broken ink techniques. At first glance, it unmistakably exhibits Dong Qichang's "mature yet vibrant" technique.

"However, it is too craftsman-like, too focused on technique, and the layers of the picture are too complicated. Although it has a strong sense of three-dimensionality, it lacks the unique meaning of Dong Qichang: 'de-emphasizing realism and using brush and ink for self-entertainment'."

"Secondly, brushwork: Dong Qichang mostly used the central and side strokes, and secondly, dry brush and light ink, so that the solid and void complement each other, creating a sparse and ethereal effect. But this painting mainly uses dry brush and burnt ink, and then layers of washes to achieve the effect of 'discussing the brush'..."

"Looking at the composition, it's a typical three-part layout: the thatched cottage in the foreground, the waterside in the middle ground, and the mountains in the background, with clear layers. However, Dong Qichang's compositional style is characterized by its concise and level perspective..."

To put it simply: Dong Qichang's style wasn't this dense; there was a lot of blank space, at least more than the brushstrokes... Therefore, I judge that this was painted by Zhao Zuo, a famous painter of the Ming Dynasty and a representative of the Huating School.

"Compared to Dong Qichang, Zhao Zuo is somewhat inferior in terms of painting skills, brushwork, and artistic conception, but this is only relative. He was a famous artist of the Ming Dynasty, and many of his works have been passed down to posterity."

The Palace Museum's "Fuchun Mountain Range" scroll, the National Palace Museum in Taipei's "Cold River Thatched Pavilion" hanging scroll, and the Shanghai Museum's "Imitation of Da Chi's Endless Autumn Mountains" scroll, "Landscape Scroll," and "Autumn Mountain Retreat" fan painting, among others.

The scroll "Endless Streams and Mountains" is included in the second volume of "Illustrated History of Chinese Painting," while the scroll "Layered Verdant Scenery of the Yangtze River" is housed in the National Art Museum of China...

After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng smiled again: "To return to the point: this painting was indeed done by a ghostwriter, but the inscription and seal are genuine. Moreover, Zhao Zuo himself was a renowned artist who professionally ghostwrote for Dong Qichang for over twenty years, resulting in a large number of his works being passed down. Therefore, all the major art circles generally consider it to be an authentic work by Dong Qichang..."

"However, despite the implicit agreement, to avoid damaging the brand, the starting price before the auction will not be too high, basically not exceeding one million... And how many genuine works by Dong Qichang himself are this large?"

Lin Sicheng held up three fingers: "The starting bid will be at least three million!"

Lin Sicheng spoke eloquently and unhurriedly, laying out his thoughts in a straightforward manner.

But the woman's heart sank.

Subconsciously, he recalled what the expert from the Chinese Painting Academy had said after looking at the painting for a full hour: "There are basically no problems. Miss Wang can try bidding."

I just wanted a result, I didn't ask him for an appraisal certificate. If there's no problem, then there's no problem. Why add "basic" before it?

And those large auction houses I visited, they all said it was genuine, but they always set a starting price, just like we'd agreed: 700,000, 800,000, 900,000...

When asked for the reason, the explanation was surprisingly consistent: disordered inheritance.

But now she realized that wasn't the case at all, but rather what Lin Sicheng had said: Zhao Zuo's ghostwriting was only worth that much...

Suddenly, the woman's lips trembled: "After two years of companionship, all I got were three fakes. In total, it's less than a million."

But since the person is already in jail, she can't exactly go to the prison to settle scores later.

But she really wasn't willing to sell it for only a few hundred thousand...

The woman gritted her teeth and looked at Hao Jun: "Mr. Hao, I'll pay more, or I'll give it to you directly... please stamp this painting..."

Hao Jun was startled: "Are you kidding me?!"

Is this a matter of paying more money?

Whoever built this is an idiot: If anything happens, Rongbaozhai will sue them without fail, and he'll be in jail for at least three years...

After a moment's thought, Hao Jun's face hardened: "Miss Wang, I'm sorry!"

The woman's expression darkened, and she remained stunned for a long time before finally nodding.

Then let's put it on the auction.

Not everyone is like this kid, with such a sharp eye and so much knowledge. He might just fetch a high price.

But what if?

If it's exposed and people recognize that Zhao Zuo wrote this on behalf of someone else, then the bidding process will be completely blocked.

So, should we film it or not?

For a moment, her mind was in complete chaos. The woman silently rolled up the painting and put it into the box.

Perhaps the blow was too great, as he seemed somewhat dazed. When he was putting the cover down, he accidentally knocked another painting down.

With a "thud," the long box fell to the ground, splitting in two, and the scroll rolled out.

It wasn't tied at all; it immediately rolled open halfway, revealing neat handwriting.

Wow, these characters are so well written, they look like they were printed!

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then picked it up casually.

Enjoying oneself... Is this the mark of Chen Du?

Haha...Is this the "Taige style" (a style of writing that emphasizes formal and informal communication)?

But it looks a bit like a genuine work by Shen Du?