再论王概与《芥子园画传初集》

Wang Gai and The First Edition of Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden

《芥子园画传》是一部对中国绘画史产生重大影响却又饱受争议的画谱。文章认为,对于《芥子园画传》的非议缘于很多论者未见到《芥子园画传》精美的初刻本,作者从内容、形制、造型能力、整体感等方面将《芥子园画传初集》和现在通行的巢勋临本进行了细致的对比,肯定了《芥子园画传初集》的高度艺术性与成就。作者同时深入探寻了《芥子园画传初集》编绘者王概的生平、师承、绘画艺术,以及王概与《芥子园画传初集》出版人李渔的关系,反驳了一些论者以人品来否定该书的观点。

The First Edition of Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden ( Jie Zi Yuan Hua Zhuan Chu Ji《芥子园画传初集》) is a picture-copybook which is of great influence upon the China history of painting but severely criticized. The article, however, holds the viewpoint that the controversy is attributed to the fact that many commentators have never seen such an exquisite edition personally. Comparing The First Edition of Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden with the prevailing copy of the painting by Chao Xun in terms of contents, shapes, modeling capabilities, sense of entirety and so on, the author gives the former definite recognition of its high artistic quality and achievement. Therefore, the article refutes the character-based negative comments towards the book by deeply researching into Wang Gai, the compiler and painter of it as for his life, learning experience, art of painting and his relationship with Li Yu, the publisher of The First Edition of Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden.