Lotus Painting by Qing Dynasty Master Artist Zhao Zhiqian (1829-1884)
清代大藝術家趙之謙 (1829一1884) 蓮花圖
Zhao Zhiqian [Chao Chih-ch’ien; zi Huishu; hao Beian]
(b Kuaiji, Zhejiang Province, 8 Aug 1829; d Nancheng, Jiangxi Province, 18 Nov 1884).
Chinese calligrapher, seal-carver, painter and scholar. After his example, it became common for artists to attempt to be competent in painting, calligraphy and seal-carving rather than to specialize in a single discipline. Zhao was one of the greatest artists of the late Qing period (1644–1911), although much of his work displays a disquiet and unbalanced awkwardness that conflicted with Chinese aesthetic values of the time.
Zhao Zhiqian (1829-1884)
original zi Yifu, later changed his zi Huishu, 'tao Lengjun, Bei'an, Ranliao, Tiesan, Mei'an, etc., was a native of Huiji, Zhejiang. Re attained his juten degree in 1859 and had served as magistrate in various districts such as Poyang, Fengxin, Nancheng of the Jian~i province.
Zhao was an eminent seal carver, painter and calligrapher in the late Qing period. He painted flowers, vegetables and fruits with bold and expressive application of ink and colours. This innovative and distinctive style of flower painting, having incorporated the styles of the previous masters Xu Wei, Shitao and Li Shan, set the fashion for the later development of flower painting in the xkyi (spontaneous) style. He started to practise calligraphy in the manner of Yan Zhenqing and later devoted himself to writing seal and clerical scripts in the style of Deng Shiru. His calligraphy in running script was blended with the calligraphic brushstrokes of the Wei stelae. He successfully established a distinctive style of his own.
趙之謙 (1829一1884)
初字益甫，亦作益父，號冷君，改字撝叔，號悲盦，又號悲盦居士，憨寮、鐵三、孺卿、梅庵，縣，廣結天下名士胡荄甫、魏稼孫、沈鈞初、潘伯寅、劉銓福、李文田等人，從各方面汲取營養。去官后長期在杭州、上海鬻書賣畫為生，并致力于金石考証之活動，曾與上海川沙金石考古家沈樹鏞一起，花費近10年的時間編撰《補寰宇訪碑錄》晚年經常蛩居上海寫字作畫，從者甚眾，成為“前海上畫派”的盟主。趙之謙的畫風繼承陳淳、石濤、李鱓、羅聘等人的筆法，又參入篆隸筆法，峻勁渾厚，古茂沉雄，一掃清末畫壇盛行的庸腐柔靡之習，為傳統中國畫開辟了一條全新的道路。適應新興市民階層的審美需要，具有清新活潑畫風的“海上畫派”形成過程中，受到趙之謙影晌較大。他的書法初師顏真卿，后受包世臣的影響，善用中鋒運筆，字體自然流美，又擅長篆刻。趙之謙的繪畫、書法和篆刻作品，歷來是藝術市場上的“寵兒”，價格受日本收藏者競購而“堅挺”。1990年3月他的(花卉)4屏條，在香港拍賣市場上以352萬港元拍出，創下當時中國近代書畫的世界紀錄。
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