I just have stolen this painting from the treasure vault. It was probably the most guarded place I have ever been into, as a conservator, I have absolutely 100 percents of chance to enter the Palace Museum. But since I am now officially a perpetrator. I might be secretly executed by the government if I got caught.
The reason I stole the painting is out of my mere appreciation of the painting, I like it way too much so that I would want to own it
This is only the beginning part of the painting, which depicts the early stage of the banquet.
Please bear the concept of time in mind, which is a key element to the form of this painting.
The Night Revels of Han Xizai 韩熙载夜宴图; is a painted handscroll attributed to Chinese 10th-century artist Gu Hongzhong. It survived as a copy made during the Song dynasty. The painting depicts Han Xizai, a minister of the Southern Tang emperor Li Yu, along with realistic portrayals of more than forty persons. The painting is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Chinese art. A total of 46 characters were depicted in this painting.
The Southern Tang lord Li Yu heard that Han Xizai lived an "unbridled life", and sent Gu to spy on Han's home, and returned with only memory bear in mind to reflect the situation of Han Xizai's night revel, a true depiction of the depressed Han Xizai's indulgence. The painting is divided into five sections, separated by screens and tents. In the first section, "Listening to music", the characters include Li Ka-ming, the new scholar Lang Charm, Dr. Chan Chi-yong, Zwei Lang Zhuàn, and the dancing girl Wang Yashan; in the second section, "Watching the Dance", Han Xizai plays a drum and Wang Yashan dances; in the third section, "resting", the scene moves from motion to silence, with a guest sleeping under a quilt, Han Xizai sitting on a couch flirting with his maid, a maid covering her face with a lute; in the fourth section, "blowing clean", Han Xizai holds a fan in his right hand, watching an orchestra playing flute and bamboos; in the fifth section, "Recess to the Banquet", people lingered and forgot to leave.
These five sections were presented in the same time and space by scrolling through the painting, which left an anachronistic impression for the viewers.
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