Chapter 254: A Foreign Painter?

Song dynasty, a certain local academy.

The young prodigy painter Wang Ximeng stood by the window, staring blankly at the sketch of the "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains".

When he looked up at the heavens, his eyes suddenly brightened: "Famous painting list… passed down… if my work could…"

Yuan dynasty, on the banks of the Fuchun River where Huang Gongwang lived in seclusion.

Huang Gongwang, with white beard and hair, an ethereal scholar's bearing, was fishing by the river; upon seeing the heavens, he stroked his beard and smiled faintly,

"Famous paintings… passed down… my 'Fuchun Mountain Dwelling', I wonder how future generations will judge it?"

"Ten years of extended life? Ha ha, this life of mine is enough, enough!"

The fishing rod twitched as a fish took the bait, yet he seemed oblivious.

All realms in turmoil, yet the heavens remain still.

That clear, resonant celestial sound, as if scented with ink and echoing with zither tones, rang across the universe once more:

【The Top Ten Timeless Masterpieces of Huaxia, now revealed!】

【Starting from the tenth place, presented in order!】

【Tenth: 'Hundred Steeds Scroll'】

【Dynasty: Qing】

【Artist: Lang Shining (Italian missionary, Qing court painter)】

【Work type: meticulous, richly colored long scroll of steed horses】

On the left side of the list, silver light swirled, coalescing into a virtual long scroll of lavish colors and grand momentum.

In the image, over a hundred steed horses of varied postures and fully rendered coats either galloped, rested, drank, or played, scattered among mountains, waters, and forests.

Its technique was unparalleled in detail; the horses' muscles, bones, fur sheen, and even the texture and light on the vegetation were rendered with striking realism.

It bore obvious Western perspective and chiaroscuro, yet merged with the spirit and composition of Chinese painting.

The celestial sound accompanied the unfolding image:

【Lang Shining, an Italian, came to China during the Kangxi era, became a court painter, and served through the Kang, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns.】

【The 'Hundred Steeds Scroll' is his masterpiece, also the pinnacle of Qing court painting.】

【This work blends Western focal perspective, chiaroscuro, and Chinese meticulous, richly colored technique, pioneering a new 'East‑West synthesis'.】

Each of the hundred steed horses is unique, with vivid expression, and the skill reaches the summit.

It is not merely a painting, but a precious testament to Qing court aesthetics and East‑West cultural exchange.

【However, its historical and cultural depth is slightly inferior to older ancient paintings.】

【Its artistic achievement is high, yet within the long river of Chinese painting it resembles a brilliant yet distinctive pearl, thus placed tenth.】

【Reward for ranking: Artist Lang Shining, ten years of extended life!】

A vibrant, gentle, mellow cyan light column descended from the heavens, crossing time and space, and entered a spot in the Qing dynasty (where Lang Shining was).

The aged Lang Shining was painting when suddenly his spirit was invigorated, feeling a warm current surge through his whole body.

His long‑standing presbyopia seemed clearer, the age spots on his hands faded considerably, and his entire qi and spirit were refreshed!

He looked up at the sky in surprise, quickly bowed toward the direction of the Forbidden City, and felt deep gratitude toward the Eastern 'Celestial Dao Immortal'.

"The tenth place is a foreign painter?"

Liu Bang scratched his head, "The painting looks truly lifelike! Like a living horse! But this tenth slot… seems the rest are all descendants of the Han from the imperial clan?"

Ying Zheng examined the steed horses closely, nodded and said, "The realism of this work is exquisite, truly rare."

Great Qing, Qianlong era.

Emperor Qianlong, upon seeing the 'Hundred Steeds Scroll' on the list and Lang Shining's extended life, beamed with great delight.

"Excellent! Lang Shining is my capable painter; his work has Heaven's approval, ten years of extended life, proof of my discernment!"

"Issue the decree: reward Lang Shining with a hundred taels of gold and ten sets of imperial pigments, so he may focus on painting!"

"Zhe!"

The eunuch hurried to deliver the decree.

Some conservative scholars in the court sneered inwardly, feeling that a foreign painter's ranking tarnished Huaxia's tradition, yet they dared not speak openly.

【Ninth: 'Tang Palace Ladies Paintings'】

【(This is the collective title for a compilation of Tang dynasty ladies' paintings, represented by Zhang Xuan's 'Guoguo Lady Spring Outing', 'Women Doing Laundry', Zhou Fang's 'Ladies with Flower Hairpins', 'Ladies Waving Fans', etc.)】

【Dynasty: Tang】

【Artists: Zhang Xuan, Zhou Fang】

【Work type: ladies' figure paintings】

On the left side of the list, the image switched.

It was no longer a single concrete painting, but several brilliant excerpts from classic Tang palace ladies' paintings alternately appearing:

A plump, graceful noblewoman in a bright ru‑skirt rides a horse on a spring outing, full of vigor ('Guoguo Lady Spring Outing');

Palace women roll up sleeves to do laundry and iron, with elegant posture and strong domestic atmosphere ('Women Doing Laundry');

A flower‑hairpined noblewoman holds a fan lazily, her bearing manifold, against a sumptuous backdrop ('Ladies with Flower Hairpins');

A fan‑holding palace maid looks forlorn, with a sparse background ('Ladies Waving Fans')…

The colors are rich, the lines fluid, the figures plump and expressive, vividly displaying the Tang golden age's splendor, openness, and vitality.

【Tang, a radiant era.】

Its ladies' paintings inaugurated a new chapter in Chinese figure painting.

Zhang Xuan and Zhou Fang are the masters of this achievement.

【Their paintings are not only art, but true depictions of Tang aesthetics, attire, court and aristocratic life.】

Plumpness as beauty, openness and confidence, daily details—all captured by the brush.

These paintings established the basic paradigm of later court‑ladies paintings, an artistic microcosm of the myriad beauties of the prosperous Tang era.

As an important symbol of Tang culture, its recognizability is extremely high.

However, because the entry represents a collection of many works rather than a single painting, it is placed ninth.

Reward for making the list: authors Zhang Xuan and Zhou Fang each receive a ten‑year extension of lifespan!

Two shafts of cyan light descend, merging into the Tang temporal space.

In a studio, Zhang Xuan is sketching the drapery of a court lady when the brush suddenly hesitates; a warmth fills her, as if she has become ten years younger, her wrist steadier and stronger.

Elsewhere, Zhou Fang faces a bronze mirror, studying a court lady's demeanor, and feels his own wrinkles shallow, his white hair turn black, his vigor surge—delighted beyond measure.

Both feel something, look toward the sky, and bow deeply to the ground.

"The ninth is a Tang court‑lady painting! Good! Very good! Look at its grandeur, its clothing, its figure!"

Liu Bang watches, eyes widening, saliva almost spilling out.

"This is what a beauty is! The ones in the palace… sigh, cannot compare, cannot compare!"

Xiao He coughs: "Your Majesty, mind your decorum…"

Ying Zheng nods slightly: "The atmosphere of the Tang truly differs. The figures are plump, the postures vivid, the garments splendid yet unrestrained."

"These Zhang Xuan, Zhou Fang, indeed possess great talent."

Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin claps his hands and laughs: "Excellent! Zhang Xuan, Zhou Fang, you bring glory to our Tang! Extending life ten years is only fitting!"

"Issue the decree, reward the two handsomely! Make multiple copies of their paintings, store them in the Inner Palace, and grant them to meritorious officials!"

The ministers below burst into congratulations.

Many aristocratic women, seeing their own 'fashion benchmark' on the heavens, feel honored and decide to dress tomorrow exactly as depicted.

Eighth entry: "Five Oxen Painting"

Era: Tang

Artist: Han Huang

Painting type: paper with colored pigments, animal painting

The scene changes again.

A simple, rustic, and elegantly plain painting with subdued tones appears.

It shows five yellow oxen of differing posture, coat, and age—some low‑head grazing, some raising heads bellowing, some turning to lick tongues, some strolling slowly, some standing and scratching.

The brushwork is concise and forceful, outlining with bold strokes; light ink renders muscles and tendons, carving the oxen's honesty, strength, docility, and diligence to the third degree, brimming with vitality.

The background is extremely simple, further highlighting the five oxen's forms.

"Five Oxen Painting", a work by Tang painter Han Huang.

This painting holds several 'firsts': the earliest surviving authentic paper painting by a master, the pinnacle of ancient Chinese animal painting.

Han Huang, though a prime minister in rank, observed pastoral cattle with meticulous detail.

His depictions of oxen eschew flamboyance, seeking only likeness.

The brush is plain, the artistic conception profound, containing auspicious wishes of longevity, diligence, and sincerity.

Before literati painting rose, this work represented one of the highest achievements of Tang realistic painting.

Its status in the world of calligraphy and painting is supreme, a national treasure of the highest grade, a unique priceless artifact.

Because its subject is relatively 'niche', public awareness is slightly weaker, thus it is placed eighth.