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Subject:The history of China's copycat masters
Posted By: 孔老师 Wed, Apr 26, 2017 IP: 106.57.85.205
Dear all,
I recently purchased a very beautiful, valuable painting, which although is hand-painted is not "original" per say. The book cover says ”清郎世宁花鸟“ but the paintings have very slight variations from his most famous works, therefore proving its unoriginality. I estimate the paintings are roughly 100 to 150 years old and definitely date later than the lifetime of 郎世宁. Nevertheless, they are masterpieces of their own.
This raises the question: What is the history of such copycat masters in China? Is there a specific title for them in Chinese language? This train of thought is deeply engrained in Chinese painting philosophy, and has also pervaded mainstream Chinese culture, i.e., if a master has created or said something so perfectly, why change it? We can learn from the great masters, etc.
What are some basic tips for people trying to distinguish between an original piece and a later, revised piece by another painter? Clearly for the untrained person, such pieces look purely identical. They are masters in their own right.
Cheers,
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