CHAPTER XXIII
PAINTERS
China has had its great art epochs, but for the last few centuries, education having been a purely literary one, art seems to have lost ground to a certain extent. However, it must be admitted, by those who care to look into the matter, that all is by no means lost. If we have not progressed during some centuries past, and if we have limited ourselves to the reproduction of certain types which were created long ago, if, in short, we show no originality, but only elegance and ease in our artistic productions, it must, at least, be admitted that we have scrupulously followed our ancient traditions.
Art flourished at its best in China in the reign of the Thang family. The poet, Tou-Fou, was an artist also, whilst the painter, Ouang-Wei, was a poet. Painting could be found in the poetry of the one, and poetry in the painting of the other. Although our old masters did not pay any attention to the laws of perspective, the works of their imaginations have always been highly appreciated. Some of their pictures are exceedingly rare, and like the two spoken about in the following poems of Tou-Fou, have to-day a priceless value:—
I.
“On a painting representing some horses, executed by General Tchao.