Jianbao life

Chapter 422 The School of Athens
The clerk gave a long speech, exaggerating the details of the painting in front of them, telling the two of them one by one.

"Sir, although this painting is just a sketch, more than 80.00% of the whole painting is close to being finished, and the size is also the same as the original version, which is 2 meters wide and 1.53 meters high. It is a sketch of a world famous work. , but it is very rare, I wonder if you are interested in it, sir?"

Although the clerk's introduction was exaggerated, most of it was correct. Chu Chen was also interested in this painting, so he nodded and said, "I wonder if I can check this painting now?"

The clerk was very happy to see Chu Chen nodding his head. You must know that if Chu Chen really bought this painting, he would get a huge commission, so he said quickly, "Please wait a moment!"

After a while, the clerk came over with a foreign man in his 50s. This man had a big round face and a slightly fat figure. This man was the owner of the gallery, John.

Greeted Chu Chen politely, the boss John said with a smile: "Sir, your vision is really good, this painting can be said to be a unique work in the world, and I can guarantee that it is from Waterhouse Authentic."

"Each painting can be said to be a unique work in the world. If two paintings are exactly the same, one of them must be a fake."

Chu Chen also said something with a smile, and then said: "If this painting is indeed genuine, then I will definitely buy it, but the current price is not in line with Waterhouse's worth. If it cannot be discounted, I will buy it." Definitely wouldn't buy it."

John William Waterhouse was a representative painter in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.He is generally considered a Pre-Raphaelite painter, but he was not.His early inclinations were neoclassical, and later he was inclined towards Pre-Raphaelites.

Most of Waterhouse's works are based on myths, historical stories, and literary works. The painting style is fresh and natural, with mysterious colors, but it is more secular than the works of the Pre-Raphaelite painters.His paintings especially reflect the realistic life of the noble family of the Earl of the contemporary British royal family. His paintings are fresh, elegant, and bright in color, and were widely respected and collected by major British museums and members of the royal family at that time.

Although, Waterhouse's paintings have been collected and exhibited by many mainstream galleries, art galleries, and Royal Society of Art organizations in the UK.But after all, his reputation is not as famous as that of Dante and Holman, so the price of his paintings is not very high.

Like the work in front of me, although it is a sketch of a world-famous painting and its artistic conception is well expressed, Chu Chen feels that the real value is still far from the 100 million pounds marked.

John smiled slightly and didn't say much. He also knew that the price was not in line with the current value of Waterhouse, but he believed that as time went by, Waterhouse's reputation would definitely become bigger and bigger. His paintings It will also become more and more popular.

Therefore, even if the painting was to be discounted, it would not be much cheaper. Anyway, he is not short of money, so he can wait for it to slowly appreciate in value.

John asked the clerk to take down the painting, and then invited Chu and Chen into the VIP room beside him.

"Lady Charlotte" originated from a poem by Tennyson, based on the legend of King Arthur in the Middle Ages.It tells a sad and sad story about a girl named Charlotte.

Just like the original work, this painting is full of mysterious and desolate atmosphere, which makes people attracted to it involuntarily. However, what made Chu Chen a little curious before was that besides this, he also felt a sense of The painting is different, as if something else is attracting him.

Putting on his gloves and taking out a magnifying glass, Chu Chen observed carefully bit by bit. First of all, he felt that the canvas of this painting seemed to use a little more material, and in some places on the canvas, bubbles could still be seen. Although the ups and downs are not obvious, they cannot escape Chu Chen's keen eyes.

With such characteristics, coupled with the feeling just now, combined with the previous experience, Chu Chen immediately thought of a possibility, so he couldn't wait to use the Lingbao Eye on this painting, and while using the Lingbao Eye, instantly There are two strands of spiritual energy, one strong and one weak, directly transmitted from the painting in front of him to his body.

Needless to say, that weak psychic power is from the sketch in front of him, but the other kind of psychic power surprised Chu Chen. Didn’t it mean that this kind of psychic power could be compared with a treasure like a self-warming cup? He was surprised. What's more, the valuation given by the ability is actually about the same as the value of that string of colorful necklaces!

This made Chu Chen curious and excited, and quickly looked into his mind. Under the induction of Lingbao Eye, the "Ms. Charlotte" in front of him gradually faded away, revealing the true face of the painting inside.

When Chu Chen saw this painting, he couldn't help being a little stunned. The familiar picture displayed on the canvas made him instantly understand the name of this painting. One of the most famous, the "School of Athens" created by the famous Italian painter Raphael during the Renaissance!
In a majestic and magnificent hall, many men who looked like ancient Greek scholars gathered together, and they were conducting academic discussions freely and enthusiastically around the two men in the middle.

These people are either attentively listening, or using gestures to express their opinions, or turning their heads to look at the world with cold eyes, or writing something on the wooden board, or preparing to record something, etc.

This grand scene, numerous characters, vivid gestures and expressions, portrait characters and personal portrayals, harmonious layout, changing and unified rhythm, can be said to have developed the painting creation to the peak of the Renaissance.

What made Chu Chen a little stunned was that this "School of Athens" was clearly a mural, how could it be reduced to the current size, painted into an oil painting, and hidden under the sketch of "Lady Charlotte" in front of him?

Although Waterhouse was a Pre-Raphaelite painter, the Pre-Raphaelites got their name because they believed that real (religious) art existed before Raphael and tried to carry forward the pre-Raphaelite art to save British painting. It has nothing to do with Raphael.

If there is a relationship between Waterhouse and Raphael, it means that Waterhouse's mother was Italian, and he was also born in Italy. Is it because of this that he got this rare work?This is likely to be a mystery that will never be solved.

Chu Chen shook his head secretly, and didn't think too much about it. Although the world masterpiece in front of him has become smaller, the artistic conception it expresses and the expressions of the characters on the canvas have not changed. It is still the same as the original mural. The same, it is so lifelike, coupled with the popularity of the original mural, it is no wonder that the ability will give such a high estimate.

Chu Chen suddenly felt dizzy for a while. Knowing that the Lingbao Eye had been used for too long, he quickly put away the ability to get rid of the discomfort just now. He raised his head and asked the owner of the gallery:

"Boss, I like this work very much. I wonder if the price can be lower?"

"The minimum is 90 pounds. Although Waterhouse's reputation is not high now, I believe that with his level, it will definitely be more than this value in the future!"

"Boss, to be honest, I also know that Waterhouse's paintings will definitely be more valuable in the future, but I don't think many people will pay the future price to buy current things? Anything at a specific time, there is always it As for the specific value, I think 20 pounds should be enough to reflect the value of this painting."

The boss John was slightly taken aback when he heard the words. He did not expect that the price Chu Chen offered was the same as the price he bought at that time. In fact, it was precisely because the price he bought at that time was relatively high that he clings to the current price. , As a result, the painting has never been sold.

"NO, sir, the price you offered is too outrageous. I can give you another [-] pounds discount, otherwise I can only say sorry."

"50! Boss, I sincerely want to buy this painting, and I believe that few people will spend 50 to buy this painting. After all, this is just a sketch, isn't it?..."

Next, the two exchanged words, and finally the work was sold at a price of 68 pounds.

After the transaction was completed, Chu Chen had no intention of playing, and returned to the hotel with Wu Ke with two painting tubes.

Back in the room, Chu Chen couldn't wait to take out the oil painting he just bought and put it on the table.Then he put on his gloves and began to carefully observe the four corners of the canvas.

Seeing this, Wu Ke asked a little strangely: "Achen, what are you doing?"

Chu Chen raised his head and smiled slightly, "I'm looking for the next layer of canvas."

"A lower layer of canvas?"

Wu Ke was a little puzzled at first, but after a while she came to her senses, and asked with a look of surprise: "Is there a painting under this painting? How did you see it?"

Chu Chen explained with a smile: "First of all, the oil canvas of this painting is too thick. Secondly, look at these places, if there are some small protrusions, this is probably because there is another canvas underneath, which was not processed at that time. It fits perfectly, that’s why this phenomenon happens.”

Wu Ke looked at the canvas, as if it was what Chu Chen said: "However, even so, it doesn't prove that there are paintings underneath!"

"That's why I'm looking for the flaws in it now, but I don't have much on hand now, it's best to use a special potion, but..." At this point, Chu Chen smiled and said: "Yes! "

Wu Ke was stunned to see that Chu Chen was really in one corner of the canvas, and gently separated two layers of canvas with tweezers. She didn't know until now that there was indeed a painting hidden under this painting.And since it is hidden under this masterpiece, another painting must be of higher value, or it is very possible that it is a shocking masterpiece.

　I've been a little stuck these two days, the update is late, I'm very sorry!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)