"Grandpa Chen, can I take a look at the painting behind that suit of armor?"
Chen Nan suppressed his excitement and looked at Chen Zhongguo, who was smoking his pipe. He had a premonition that the painting was definitely a treasure.
Chen Zhongguo glanced at him, puffed on his pipe, and brought over a ladder. "Treat this place like your own home. Look at whatever you want." "The prerequisite is that you have to do it yourself."
"Of course, of course."
Chen Nan smiled as he climbed the ladder and took down the silver knight's armor hanging on the wall. A oil painting then appeared before his eyes. The painting was about two meters high and one and a half meters wide. The paper was yellowed, appearing very old. The painting depicted a house in a Western architectural style. Smoke curled from the chimney of the house. In front of the house was a large garden with countless flowers in bloom. Beyond the garden was a large lake. At the end of the lake was a continuous mountain range. At this time, the setting sun hung in the sky above the mountains. The golden afterglow turned the lake water red.
"This painting is a typical Impressionist style, and an early Impressionist style. Judging by the painting style, it should be imitating the French painter Oscar-Claude Monet." Xu Qingxin enjoyed visiting art exhibitions and recognized the painting as an Impressionist work at a glance. She looked at Chen Zhongguo curiously, "Grandpa Chen, who painted this work?"
Chen Zhongguo smiled and asked, "I feel this is a late work by Monet himself. Do you believe me?"
Xu Qingxin was slightly stunned and smiled, "Monet excelled in the experimentation and performance techniques of light and shadow. In Monet's paintings, you won't find clear shadows, nor prominent or flat outlines." "The depiction of colors through light and shadow is Monet's greatest characteristic. This painting before us fits Monet's painting characteristics, so I would believe you if you said it was his work. However, the overall color of this oil painting is too intense."
Xu Qingxin understood Western culture to some extent. This included knowledge about the signatures on paintings. Unlike famous artists in the East, especially before the Renaissance, Western artists rarely signed their works. To determine who painted a piece, one had to rely on the style of the work for identification. Of course, one also needed to have some knowledge of the lives of Western artists.
Chen Zhongguo said, "I bought this painting for thirty dollars from an old lady when I first arrived here." "Although I also believe this work is by Monet himself, no one believes it." As a modern art master in the Western world, Monet's works were priceless. However, his documented records did not mention this painting. Therefore, even though the painting's style was very similar to Monet's, it attracted no attention. Consequently, this oil painting became a mere decoration.
Chen Nan couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa Chen, how much is this painting?"
Chen Zhongguo thought for a moment and said, "If you want it, give me five hundred yuan."
Chen Nan smiled, "What if this oil painting is a real treasure? Wouldn't you be at a loss?"
Chen Zhongguo also smiled, "In the antique trade, once a sale is made, it's final. I understand this rule."
Chen Nan stated his opinion, "Grandpa Chen, let me put it this way, I feel this oil painting has a significant background." "I'd believe you if you said it was Monet's original, but whether it is or not, I need to go back and study it." "We are all descendants of Yanhuang. As a junior, I shouldn't cheat you." "I have four hundred and thirty thousand on me now. I'll give you all this money." "If I profit, the loss is also mine. What do you think?" Chen Nan once had over a hundred billion, but he had donated it all to the country. The current four hundred and thirty thousand was hard-earned money from his "services" these past few days...
Chen Zhongguo hesitated, "How about this, don't give me all of it. Keep thirty thousand for yourself. After all, you're in a foreign land, you need some money on you."
Chen Nan smiled, "It's fine, I make money very easily."
Hearing this, Xu Qingxin's face instantly turned as red as a ripe peach. This guy was really considerate. She'd see how well he performed tonight. If he was good, she'd definitely give him a big red envelope as a reward.
And so, Chen Nan purchased the oil painting for four hundred and thirty thousand yuan. Then, he left the antique shop with Xu Qingxin.
"Do you really think this work is a treasure?" Xu Qingxin linked her arm with Chen Nan's, her eyes full of curiosity. Based on her understanding of Chen Nan, he was not someone who would spend money recklessly. Usually, he only bought cigarettes. But today, he had spent a fortune, forty-three thousand yuan of his hard-earned money, on an oil painting. Was this normal?
Chen Nan smiled, "Actually, I've also studied the works of Western artists. Only by drawing upon the strengths of various masters can one achieve fame." "You know Monet pioneered Impressionism and is one of France's most famous painters. Do you know how many paintings Monet painted in his lifetime?"
"Trying to test me?" Xu Qingxin chuckled, "If you can stump me, I'll bite you tonight." "Monet, as a master of modern oil painting, painted two thousand one hundred and thirty oil paintings in his lifetime, leaving behind five hundred and twelve sketches." "And two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five letters."
Chen Nan nodded with undeniable affirmation, "You're right. This information can be found. If one were inclined, they could even find the names of those works." "But do you know Monet's personality?"
Xu Qingxin replied, "I know a little, but not much."
Chen Nan continued, "Monet disliked studying and had poor grades. However, he was exceptionally fond of painting and enjoyed it immensely from a young age, even displaying and selling his works in stationery shops as a child." "Moreover, he was someone who saw everything he started through to the end." "Since you know Monet, you should know one of his representative works and his masterpiece, 'Impression, Sunrise,' right?"
Xu Qingxin said, "It was 'Impression, Sunrise' that made me fall in love with his work." 'Impression, Sunrise' was Monet's breakthrough work. It is now housed in the British Museum and is considered a national treasure of Britain, priceless.
Chen Nan and Xu Qingxin walked side-by-side on the bustling streets of New York. He looked up at the night sky and said, "Monet was a man who saw things through to the end. Since he created his masterpiece 'Impression, Sunrise,' he naturally had to create a work to bring his life to a perfect close." "Although the colors in the painting I hold are a bit intense." "However, in his later years, Monet suffered from an eye ailment, and even died because of it!"
Xu Qingxin suddenly stopped in her tracks, looking at Chen Nan with disbelief and terror in her eyes. "Are you suggesting that this painting is Monet's final work?"
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At the same time!
An old man, accompanied by a group of bodyguards, entered Chen Zhongguo's antique shop. Chen Zhongguo stood up enthusiastically, "Mr. Moore, what brings you here?"
Moorhard looked at the empty wall and exclaimed, "Oh my God, Mr. Chen, where did the painting that was hanging on the wall go?"