Old-time musicians

"Clang." "Clang."

The two men, whose clothes were stained, carefully lowered the picture frame in their hands to a height of only a few centimeters, and then gently dropped it to the ground.

Another unshaven gentleman squatted on the ground, moved his body, and unfolded the canvas rolls in his hands one by one.

"Mr. Fanning, you really didn't give us good hospitality. Our place is dirty and crowded." Edward Malay, a slovenly painter, used small plaster blocks to press down several rolled corners of the cloth, and then stretched out his sleeves to wipe them. Sweat on face.

This is a studio rented by three people on the first floor. The area is not small, and there are several rooms. However, there are so many sundries or paintings stacked or hung that there is almost no blank space on the wall.

The same goes for the floor of the room or the furniture countertops. Everywhere that can be placed is filled with various drawing boards and easels, plaster models, flowers and fruits, cloth rolls, paper, and paint buckets. In several corners, there are piles of discarded tin tubes of paint, dirty rags, and beer bottles. It became a hill.

The other two suggestive painters, Reno Clovid and Pissarro Cumier, climbed onto the scaffolding after laying out their works and closed the curtains to allow as much bright natural light to penetrate into the house as possible.

This was Fanning's second day on a business trip to Fort Saint-Alam.

The recording of the "Goldberg Variations" and piano performance training had been successfully completed before this, but Fanning's schedule is still full.

"You don't have to make any apologies." Fan Ning sincerely rejected Malay's apology amid the smell of turpentine lingering on his nose, "Look, they are so cute and so awe-inspiring."

Fan Ning looked at about 60 paintings spread on the ground from beginning to end, and slowly walked back and forth on the "walkways" vacated among them.

The free techniques, flowing colors, eclectic compositions, and fast and wild brushstrokes explore the expression of outdoor air, light, and instantaneous effects, bringing wonderful inspiration to spirituality and aesthetics.

The future Monet, Degas, Renoir or Sislay may be hidden among these failed Salon painters.

Although they are now just "moths" in the world's perception.

The painter Cumiye still had embarrassment and embarrassment on his face. He took a big bite of the fruit pie in his hand: "When the economic conditions improve, we may be able to slightly renovate the walls and cement floors next year, and then free up another room." The room is used as a reception area, at least equipped with a sofa and a coffee table. When Mr. visited here, there was not even a place to sit down. This is really strange."

He didn't know what kind of occasions musicians like Fan Ning usually went to and what kind of reception they received.

Fan Ning shook his head: "In many cases, the fire of human civilization, priceless spiritual wealth, great artistic glory and various elements sprout and grow in the corners of these narrow and messy cities. In my opinion, these few The small studio, smelling of turpentine, rivals any of the magnificent palace towers in Theoline."

"The most popular one among them is currently worth 350 pounds." Claudius, who is accustomed to wearing a sun hat indoors, took off his hat and bowed slightly to Fanning. His face and arms were sunburned from long-term and large-scale outdoor painting. Black and shiny.

"But your appreciation of these words makes me inspired. Perhaps in my lifetime, we can still see a four-digit transaction price for one of our works."

"Mr. Fan Ning, which one is your favorite?" Seeing that Fan Ning first stopped in his own area, Ma Lai said, "According to your curatorial conditions, you can choose one of my 20 works as a gift. ”

Fan Ning once again turned his attention to the painting that he had met at the door of Prudence Auction House that day.

In the dark and quiet woods, flowers, fruit baskets and music scores are laid out on white cloth on the grass. Two well-dressed gentlemen are playing the violin, and a naked lady is sitting opposite with a guitar in her arms. In the distance is another woman who also took off her clothes. Lady, she stood in the gurgling stream with her hair pulled back.

"Just this one, 'The Concert After Lunch,'" Fanning said.

"This is indeed my most proud work, and it is my honor to have it in your collection." The binding rope and stuffing protection in Ma Lai's hands were already ready. After hearing this, he immediately squatted down and prepared to pack.

"No need to be in such a hurry." Fan Ning motioned him to stand up. "With 20 works per person, we can all participate in the exhibition normally. I won't be too late to deliver them after the exhibition is dismantled. Of course, I don't mind if it is marked as special during the exhibition." Collected by the Museum of Fine Arts.

"Would you like to take a look at my exhibition works again?" Painter Cumiye also asked.

Fan Ning quickly appreciated each painting for 15 seconds. After about five minutes, he stood somewhere and lowered his head.

A look of surprise flashed in Kumiye's eyes: "It is indeed the painting with the best inspiration for me recently. How did you see it?"

"You see, your original brushstroke style is more fine and fragmented." Fan Ning's finger crossed the distance, "And this painting has more outstanding characteristics. The brushstrokes are thick, broad, and solid. The color of the sun is a simple transition between warm and cold tones, but it is well laid out. It’s very thick, and it has both a sense of plane and strength and weight. Well, this is also related to the trees and straw that see through the front of the house. The original dignified composition is suddenly broken. How lively and tender.”

Speaking of this, he smiled slightly: "I chose to collect "Winter Impressions of the Village" by Mr. Pissarro Cumier. Such light depiction is simply intoxicating."

"You have a panoramic view of all the new techniques I have tried recently." Cumiye admired.

A piece of paper on which he wrote "To Mr. Carolyn Van Ning" with the date, date and signature was attached to the back corner of the canvas.

It covered the bright red "r" mark, which was the rejection mark left on the Royal Academy Salon Exhibition.

Then, Fanning chose Renault Clawed's "Seascape Gradient".

Clawed felt that he was so impressed that he wanted to beat his chest.

He just said "I hope to see a painting sold for four figures in my lifetime", in fact, the implicit expectation in his heart is this painting!

Well, although he thinks the most promising painting was picked, doesn't this just prove his unique talent?

"Mr. Fanning, you are really the most ruthless art collector I have ever seen!"

Clawed has higher confidence in this bimonthly exhibition at the end of 913.

If, if he can sell 500 pounds in total, or even 700 or 800 pounds, his life next year will be much better, at least he will have more choices in the purchase of oil painting supplies and the arrangement of travel schedules, and he will not be too frugal.

Fanning was indifferent to the expressions of the three painters. He smiled and asked loudly: "Mr. Virgil, Miss Lausanne, which works of the painters do you have any creative ideas for?"

Behind him stood another man and a woman.

Virgil, a famous composer who was born in 880 and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music of Theolian; Lausanne, a young female composer who was born in 887 and returned from the Academy of Music of the Kingdom of Holy Janus and studied under Master Zimmermann.

They are both musicians who prefer the "suggestive flow" style in music creation in recent years. For example, Virgil publicly claimed that his orchestral suite "Dynamic Trifold Painting" composed in 905 was influenced by Vincent's art style.

Yes, these two people have had a friendship with Vincent, and it is not the first time that Fanning has met them.

Virgil is ten years older than Fanning, and Lausanne is three years older, but in terms of fame and achievements, the two are "blade holder" and "bridegroom" respectively, and the nature of the dealings is that Fanning is promoting them.

Fanning fully compared the works of six or seven new generation composers and confirmed that these two have the greatest potential on the road of "Impressionism".

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"The combination of sound and picture Mr. Fanning's creative commission and planning ideas are really interesting." Virgil usually looks gloomy, and always maintains a taciturn and sentimental look in life, but when he talks about music or composes, his face immediately becomes energetic.

At this time, he even hums a happy song when he lowers his head to appreciate the paintings.

"It's touching and fascinating." The female composer Lausanne has big wavy hair and wears a rose-colored high-waisted long skirt. She smokes hard and squins her eyes to stare at the paintings on the ground, just like a pathologist observing biological slices under a microscope.

She was almost fascinated by the smoke, and her brown eyes were tied to the vibrant colors and lines. Wherever the inspiration flies, her eyes follow.

The two selected the works they were interested in, and then signed a temporary loan memorandum with the painters to print a large-scale picture album.

Although Fanning's more specific planned sessions and repertoire arrangements are unknown, they have been revealed to the performance mode of several of them.

These concerts are basically synchronized with the exhibition time, and the first, middle and last three sessions, the first half is Viadrin's piano concerto, and the second half is the "suggestive flow" orchestral works. While the latter repertoire is being performed, a group of representative paintings in the gallery exhibition hall will be moved to the stage by Fanning to show the audience.

This is a new model of "combination of sound and painting" that Fanning explained to them.

Fanning commissioned Virgil and Lausanne to create an orchestral work each, the duration of which should be enough to support the second half, on the condition of a remuneration of 1,000 pounds. This price can buy a small apartment in the city outside the core area of ​​Saint-Terrainburg, which is enough to match the market status of the "groom" and "blade holder" artists, and Lausanne is even higher.

"In addition, you will be given a 5% dividend on the sales revenue of the live records corresponding to the premieres of the two works." Fanning's next words made the two feel flattered.

Equivalent to these two concerts, 5% of the 35% of the record cake of the old symphony orchestra was given to Viadrin, and 5% was given to them.

"Pure surprise." Virgil took a deep breath, "In fact, Mr. Fanning is willing to let the old symphony orchestra rehearse my works, which is already a great support."

Lausanne and his creative commissions correspond to the opening season's first concert of "Tchaikovsky I", the middle concert of "La II", and the last concert of "Pu III", and Fanning is also responsible for the creation of the second half.

How could they not know what level these concerts are and how many upper-class people will be there! Especially the three concerts attended by the legendary pianist "Li" after his return, not to mention anything else, his name is in the same frame with them on the repertoire list, and I don't know how many people will remember it!

The female composer put out her cigarette, bowed to Fanning, and said earnestly: "Your achievements in symphony and concerto creation are well-known in the music circle of Theolian. I will use all my inspiration to make sure that the new works in the second half will not hinder you."

"5%, then does it count as 100% for us painters?" Ma Lai took over the conversation and smiled, "After all, Mr. Fanning did not set an auction commission rate for us."

"There is no booth rental fee." Claude said, "Apart from the traditional art museum promotion media, this new form is simply unheard of for me - three musicians compose music based on the content of the painting, and go on stage to perform audio and video at the same time. This is undoubtedly equivalent to the media in the concert hall playing a promotional role for the exhibition."

"If the price is really based on publicity exposure, we small painters can't afford it at all." Kumier nodded and shook his head.

These artists with similar ideas are talking more and more speculatively, and their emotions are getting more and more expectant. Everyone has a vague premonition that this is an extremely important and high-standard event.

"Speaking of auctions, I would like to remind you one more thing." Fanning smiled, "There may be a group of collectors, investors or aristocratic enthusiasts who favor you in the exhibition, but my personal suggestion is that the works you actually sell should not exceed 15% of the exhibitors."

A total of about 240 works will be presented to the public at this bimonthly art exhibition. Fanning will select about 40 works by Vincent, and the rest will be produced from the Salon of Losers.

Claude, Malay and Kumier are the core members of the Salon of the Rejected. Fanning will visit other painters later to select 10 people multiplied by 20 paintings.

"No more than 15%? Then based on the scale of 20 paintings I have on hand, it means not to sell more than 3 paintings?" The three looked at each other and were confused by Fanning's suggestion.

As unconventional and unknown painters like them, as long as someone bids, as long as it is not "cheap sale", then of course they hope to sell as many paintings as possible.

Sometimes it is too embarrassing, and there have been experiences of "cheap sale" of works of tens or hundreds of pounds.

"Of course," Fanning smiled and added, "if there is a sponsor who offers a high price, well, I mean at least a few thousand, then naturally ignore this set of suggestions, don't be hard on money, right."

A few thousand? For example, more than 5,000 pounds? These people just felt that this touched their imagination blind spot.

"Haha, how is that possible?" Claude, with a sun hat on his head and dark skin, grinned.

"We just follow Mr. Fanning's advice." Malay nodded.

In fact, of the 20 paintings in hand, except for the one given to Fanning, it would be good if the other 2-3 can be sold.

Even Claude, the leader of the Salon of Rejects, only hopes that the transaction volume can reach 500 pounds, and dreaming of 700 or 800, so as to improve his living and creative conditions next year.

Fanning's reminder is a bit strange, but it should have nothing to do with him.

"Dear painters."

Finally, composer Virgil said, "This event involves several major groups in the music and art circles. For the bimonthly art exhibition and the 'combination of sound and painting' part, do we need to unify the propaganda caliber to highlight our artistic style and concepts that are different from the academic school?"

"This is indeed necessary," Malay thought, "After all, the 'Salon des Refusés' is just a self-deprecating way for us guys, and it has little to do with your music world."

"Or it should be 'suggestive flow'." Clawed said, "Although this term is not formal, it has a certain cross-border recognition. 'Suggestive flow' paintings, 'suggestive flow' music, and even 'suggestive flow' poetry can be understood by the art circle."

"I have a suggestion." Fanning smiled and said.

So the three leading painters of the Salon des Refusés and the two unconventional talented musicians all turned their attention to Fanning.

"This artistic trend that was born around the 9th century of the new calendar can be named: Impressionism."