Appreciation of the calligraphy of Zhao Mengfu's "Two Calligraphy Volumes with Guo You" worth 267 million
On the evening of November 19, 2019, Zhao Mengfu's early letters and letters "Two Volumes with Guo Youzhi" were sold for 267 million yuan after a long bidding of more than an hour and 7 minutes at China Guardian's "Grand View - Night of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Treasures·Ancient" make a deal. This price set a new record for Zhao Mengfu's works in the auction market.
Zhao Mengfu's "Two Notes to Guo Youzhi". The two notes in this volume are called "Inappropriate Notes for Socializing" and "Feng Farewell Notes". They are both written to You Zhi (Guo Tianxi), a great collector in the Yuan Dynasty. They are Zhao Mengfu's early calligraphy works. One story describes Zhao Mengfu's complicated psychology of conflict and dilemma when Cheng Wenhai, an important member of the Yuan Dynasty, came to Hangzhou to recruit his troops to live in seclusion, as well as his courageous attitude when friends had conflicts of interest. The other describes his concern and sympathy for his friend's financial difficulties and his loneliness in the capital.
Contemporary scholars have similar opinions on the writing date of the first letter in this volume, "Fengbietie". They basically agree that it was the eve of Zhao Mengfu's self-discipline and his departure for Jinan. As for the "Inappropriate Note for Socializing" in the "Second Notes to Guo You", it may be dated to the beginning of the 29th year of the Yuan Dynasty, or it must be believed that this note must be from the 23rd year of the Yuan Dynasty, "Cheng Jufu was ordered to search for hermits in the south of the Yangtze River, and the "search" was written when the Zhao family could not escape."
At the auction site, the bidding lasted for more than an hour. Zhao Mengfu's "Two Postscripts with Guo You" was sold for 267 million yuan.
"Second Notes with Guo Youzhi"
"Yu Guo Youzhi Er Tiejuan" is an important document for studying Zhao Mengfu's life, interactions, and calligraphy style, and has been cited many times by relevant experts. Regardless of its historical value and artistic value, it is very precious and extremely rare.
In fact, as early as the 1990s, Wang Lianqi said in "Questions on the Authenticity of Zhao Mengfu's Calligraphy and Paintings" that "Zhao Mengfu gave two letters to Guo Youzhi in his early years. Now he is living in Japan and seeing the photos, there is no doubt that they are authentic..." According to his later narration In 2009, he was entrusted by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and went to Japan with Xue Yongnian to buy back this volume. For some reason, it is still circulating in the auction house.
"Inappropriate Social Media Post"
"Farewell Note"
