Han Style Repaired Painting《汉洗补图轴》

Tang Yifen (1778–1853)
Tang Yifen, courtesy names Yusheng and Ruoyi, and pseudonyms Zhou Weng and Qinyin Daoren, was from Wujin (present-day Changzhou), Jiangsu. He rose to the position of Deputy General of Wenzhou and, citing illness, retired to Nanjing, where he built the Qinyin Garden. Tang Yifen had a wide range of interests and exceptional talent in various fields such as astronomy, geography, and the teachings of ancient philosophers. He was also proficient in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and had a keen interest in music, horsemanship, and fencing. He was particularly renowned for his painting. In 1853, during the Taiping Rebellion’s attack on Nanjing, Tang Yifen assisted the Governor of Liangjiang, Lu Jianying, in defending the city. After their defeat, he calmly composed a final poem and drowned himself, earning the posthumous title “Zhenmin.”

“Han Style Repaired Painting” (1849)
This painting by Tang Yifen on a full-shape rubbing of bronzes represents a new painting style that became popular in the late Qing and Republican periods. Full-shape rubbing, also known as “three-dimensional rubbing,” is a special technique that transfers the original appearance of an object onto flat rubbing paper, requiring great skill. The three bronze items in the painting are carefully arranged, with the ink wash of the pine, plum, and background stones applied lightly, harmonizing with the rubbing and creating a sense of ancient charm. The only color used is the light red of the plum blossoms, which serves as a focal point to avoid monotony. This work showcases the artist’s ingenuity. The inscription reads: “These are items from my collection. Li Jinhong passed by Baimen and asked me to make rubbings as a gift for Kaitang’s library, and I painted plums, stones, and pines to complement them. Early winter of the Jiyou year, inscribed by Yifen while ill.” The seals read “Tang Yifen’s seal” and “Li Jinhong of Yanghu personally made this rubbing.” The collector’s seal reads “Once in the collection of Liu’s Jingxiutang of Jingjiang.”

汤贻汾（1778—1853），字雨生、若仪，号粥翁、琴隐道人等，江苏武进（今常州）人。累官至温州副总兵，称病告归，于南京筑琴隐园而居。他兴趣广泛，天赋亦高，在天文、地理、诸子之学均有造诣；长于诗文书画，旁及音律、骑射、击剑等，其中尤以绘画名重于时。咸丰三年（1853）太平军进攻南京，汤贻汾协助两江总督陆建瀛督防守城，兵败后从容赋绝命诗一首投池而死，谥“贞愍”。

此画为汤氏在青铜器全形拓片上补画作品，是清末民国流行的一种绘画新样式。全形拓，又称“立体拓”，是将器物的原貌转移到平面拓纸上的一种特殊技艺，难度颇大。画中三件青铜器位置皆经过精心安排，所绘松梅及衬景石头墨色均较淡，大体与拓片相近，不仅使得画面色调协调统一，而且古意盎然。仅梅花花朵用淡红色，是为点睛之笔，避免了画面的单调。从此件作品可见作者之匠心独运。款署：“此余藏器，李锦鸿过白门，嘱拓以赠恺堂典籍，并画梅石松，聊当折柳正之。己酉初冬，贻汾病中识。”款下钤白文“汤贻汾印”印，画中钤朱文“阳湖李锦鸿手拓金石”印。左下角钤朱文“靖江刘氏敬修堂曾藏”鉴藏印。