Zhao Mengfu was a famous calligrapher, painter and poet in the late Southern Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty. He is knowledgeable, good at poetry writing, understanding economy, calligraphy, fine painting, good at epigraphy and appreciation. Especially in calligraphy and painting. In painting, he created a new painting style in Yuan Dynasty, which was called "the crown of Yuan people". Zhao Mengfu is also good at seal script, official script, original works, calligraphy and cursive script, especially regular script and running script. His elegant style of calligraphy, neat structure and skillful brushwork created Zhao Ti Shu, which is called "four masters of regular script" with Ou Yangxun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan.
Zhao Mengfu's painting achievement, as Amin Wang Shizhen said: "Literati painting began in Dongpo and began in Song Xue". If the interest of Tang and Song painting lies in literary creation, then Zhao Mengfu played a bridge role in it. Before the Yuan Dynasty, the literati painting movement was mainly characterized by public opinion preparation, but after the Yuan Dynasty, it tended to be realistic, which was triggered by Zhao Mengfu. Zhao Mengfu is well-read and versatile, and literature and art create a generation of ethos. The study of Confucian classics mainly focuses on Shangshu, especially the study of rites and music. There is also a profound study of Lu Zhixue, and it is quite wonderful that the ancients did not pass it on. There are two books, Qinyuan and Paradise. The seal method respects the stone drum to curse Chu, the official script method Liang You and Zhong You, and the curse method worships the two kings (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi). Influenced by Li Yong in his later years, all kinds of calligraphy are the best in ancient and modern times. Both Tianzhu and Japan attach importance to collecting their calligraphy.
Recently, Tianyi Culture was lucky enough to get a picture of the Riverside at Qingming Festival.
This picture is Zhao Mengfu's Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival. Compared with other versions, Zhao Mengfu's version is more in line with the author. This painting blends the harmonious scene of the Northern Song Dynasty into a unified and changeable picture, showing the idyllic scenery outside the Bianliang City, the prosperous grand occasion on both sides of the Bianhe River in the city, the city bridge crossing the Guo and the boat, the scene is grand, there are many people and the description is delicate. It embodies the artist Zhang Zeduan's exquisite painting skills and superb artistic standards. His works are divided into three parts: figures, shop assistants, caravans, small bridges and flowing water, green trees and green mountains, which are full of peaceful and harmonious life scenes. Among the more than 550 figures in the whole map, there are officials, farmers, businessmen, doctors, fortune tellers, monks, Taoist priests, petty officials, women, children, Artemisia teachers and so on. During the period, it was full of dramatic plot conflicts. Fifty or sixty cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and other livestock, more than 20 cars, sedan chairs, more than 20 large and small ships, and busy and tense traffic scenes on the Bianhe River made the picture vivid, adding to the life atmosphere of the picture. Zhao Mengfu not only restored his painting, but also wrote down his personal feelings on it. His pen is clear, slim but not weak, powerful and rhythmic, with the beauty of combining rigidity with softness and domineering grace, which is a must. Very collectible.