Chapter 0639: A Curious Goods (IV)

There is no need to say more about the Louvre in Paris, I believe everyone knows that it is one of the oldest, largest and most famous museums in the world, which can be completely compared to the Forbidden City in China.

The Louvre’s collection, more than any other museum in the world, there are known as the world’s three treasures of the “Venus” statue, “Mona Lisa” painting and “Goddess of Victory” stone carving.

Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” needless to say, that has been out of the realm of art, has become a household name, I am afraid that three and a half years old children have heard of the name of the Mona Lisa, that dream-like charming smile, by many art historians called “the mysterious smile”.

Venus with Broken Arm” is also a household name in the world of goddess statues, since February 1820 found in the Aegean Sea, Greece, next to the ruins of an ancient tomb on the island of Milos, this arm of the marble half-naked full-body statue, with its overwhelming charm shook the world.

The whole statue up to two meters high, handsome face, well-proportioned body, clothing slipped to the hip, although the right arm is mutilated, but still shows the unique curves of female beauty, appearing dignified and charming, France bought after the special room in the Louvre special exhibition, from now on, the “Venus with a broken arm” is known to the world, and become a symbol of love and beauty.

As for the “goddess of victory” stone carving, once the French sculptor Rodin exclaimed: “This is a real muscle, touch her can feel the body temperature!”

With these three world-famous works of art, the Louvre’s status is almost untouchable.

From the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman works of art, to the Oriental countries of art, from the Middle Ages to modern sculpture, and a staggering number of royal treasures as well as painting masterpieces, etc., so far, the Louvre has become a world-famous art hall.

If purely on the number of collections, the Forbidden City can also be compared with it, but in terms of the collection of countries and regions involved, I’m afraid that there is no museum in the world, compared with the Louvre.

According to statistics, at present, the Louvre Palace collection of more than 40 million pieces of art treasures from all over the world.

The French will be these art treasures according to their sources and types of exhibition in six major pavilions, namely, the Oriental Art Museum, Ancient Greek and Roman Art Museum, Ancient Egyptian Art Museum, Museum of Treasures, Painting Museum and Sculpture Museum.

The Louvre’s collections, in the early days, were mostly donated by private individuals.

And oriental art, most of them were donated out of the invading French army, Frey has been many times to the Louvre and Jimi Museum, donated Chinese antiques from the Yuanmingyuan, is why Huangfu Yun will prompt Zhuang Rui so a sentence.

The Louvre once put the entire Asian Department of rare antiques, all transferred to the Jimei Museum, can imagine, Jimei Museum’s collection of fine art, will be rich to a what degree.

“Mr. Zhuang, there is no doubt that these twelve sketches of yours are all works of Mr. Picasso, all of them are authentic.”

At this time, Bass and that appraiser, also finished the appraisal work of these sketches, no matter from the paper age or painting style, these works, undoubtedly are from Picasso’s hand, not to mention that there are also three sketches with Picasso’s autograph on them.

“Huangfu once told me that Mr. Zhuang wanted to use these Picasso’s works in exchange for some Chinese cultural relics in our collection, I don’t know if Mr. Zhuang has any works he has his eye on, bring them up and we can negotiate.”

Bass’s words continued, his Guimet Museum can’t compare to the Louvre, which itself has Picasso’s works in its collection, so this time Bass also came with sincerity, and indeed wanted to exchange these Picasso’s sketches in Zhuang Rui’s hands, over.

“Mr. Bass, I haven’t visited your museum yet, but I’ve long heard that your museum’s Chinese collection is the richest of all, and I think that what’s on display right now, I’m afraid it’s just the tip of the iceberg, right?”

Zhuang Rui lied here, first touted Bass’s collection, and then continued, “Mr. Picasso’s works, are loved by people all over the world, Mr. Bass wants to have these works, it’s not difficult, but must come up with the corresponding works of art, before we can have the possibility of cooperation.”

“Corresponding artwork? Mr. Zhuang, you should know that those artifacts from Asia in our collection are all extremely valuable with a long history, I think that you can go ahead and pick them out.”

Although Zhuang Rui was dozens of years younger than Bass, Bass still used honorifics when talking to Zhuang Rui, there was no way, in a seller’s market artwork transaction, the one with the goods in hand was the dominant party.

“Pick?”

Zhuang Rui pondered for a moment and spoke, “Mr. Bass, if possible, I would like to first look at the catalog of the Louvre exchange items received by your museum in 1945, as well as some of the Chinese artifacts that Frey gifted to the Guimet Museum that year, would you see if that’s okay?”

In China more than a hundred years ago, the most valuable antiques, no more than those braided emperors were hidden inside the Yuanmingyuan, compared to those Chinese antiques donated by those adventurers in the Jimi Museum, the value was much higher, so Zhuang Rui opened the door and mentioned it.

“Yes, if Mr. Zhuang has time, he can go to the Yoshimi Museum in the afternoon, I will take those materials to show you.”

Bas Gimei nodded his head in agreement after a slight hesitation, since he had decided to include these Picasso works in the Gimei Museum, there was definitely a corresponding price to pay, Bas didn’t think that Zhuang Rui’s comparative youth could be fooled around.

“Afternoon, fine! Afternoon then, Mr. Bass, can I invite you to have a meal together at noon?”

Zhuang Rui nodded his head and agreed, and sent an invitation to Bass Jimi, although France is all about drinking red wine, but a few cups of wine, that relationship is not able to draw a little bit closer, maybe this old guy in front of him is happy, and then he can give himself something more!

Bass heard Zhuang Rui’s words, regretfully spread his hands, smiled and said: “Zhuang, although I would like to have lunch with you and this beautiful lady, but unfortunately, I now have to go back to put the documents sorted out, you have to know, some of the archives dossier, has been decades no one has moved.”

Maybe those Chinese artworks donated by Frey and others were priceless in Zhuang Rui’s eyes, but for Bass and the Jimei Museum, those things were not much valued, and the artworks placed in the exhibition room of the Jimei Museum were less than one-tenth of what was in the warehouse.

And Bass also knows that there are a lot of antiques from China, in the Jimi Museum has been tied up, not to mention the antiques hidden in the depths of the warehouse, or those antique catalogs, I’m afraid it will take a while to find.

“Well then, Mr. Bass, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, I’ll be on time to pay a visit.”

Hearing that it was business, Zhuang Rui did not force himself and stood up to send Bass and the appraiser out the door.

Turning back, Zhuang Rui looked at Huangfu Yun and said, “Brother Huangfu, why don’t you go with me in the afternoon?”

“Nonsense, you kid won’t be able to cross the river, I still want to see the collections of the Yoshimi Museum!”

Huangfu Yun glared at Zhuang Rui, in several European countries, in addition to the British Museum and a few other museums, I’m afraid that there are few places that have more Chinese antiques than the Jimei Museum, even if you can’t get it in your pocket, it’s still a chance to see it.

At noon Zhuang Rui was Huangfu cloud slaughtered a French meal, after a little rest in the hotel, on the hotel car, and Qin Xuan Bing and Huangfu cloud three people together, to the direction of the Museum of Yoshimi and go.

As for Peng Fei, is honestly stayed in the hotel room, guarding those valuable Picasso sketches, these things can Zhuang Rui and foreign collectors negotiation treasure, can not afford the slightest accident.

“Mr. Zhuang, welcome.”

Received a call in advance of the Bass, has long been waiting at the door of the museum, this time into the Jimi Museum, that 8 pounds of ticket money saved, Zhuang Rui and his entourage in the Bass under the leadership of the second floor of the museum’s office.

Bass’s office is about seventy to eighty square feet, at the entrance is a small parlor, at this time Zhuang Rui and others are sitting on the sofa in the parlor, surveying the furnishings in the curator’s office.

“Shit, it’s really extravagant.”

With Zhuang Rui’s eyesight, he could naturally tell that the antiques on those shelves were all genuine, there were Egyptian wooden statues of pharaohs inlaid with precious stones, Thai bronze Buddha statues, Persian precious blankets, and of course, Chinese porcelain.

These things looked at Zhuang Rui is all hot, can’t wait to transform into Spider-Man in the evening, all of these objects in the bag.

“Mr. Bass, it’s better to take a look at what artwork your museum has that I can like!”

After a cursory look at the furnishings in the office, a female secretary with a hot body came in to ask a few people what they would like to drink, after Zhuang Rui casually ordered a cup of coffee, he directly made a request to Bass.

Thinking about those precious relics that were robbed a hundred years ago, Zhuang Rui’s heart at this time more or less felt some excitement.

A hundred years ago the havoc, there is no way to count clearly, how many precious antiques were plundered abroad, at this time to see those who only exist in the collection of national treasures in the catalog of cultural relics, Zhuang Rui and Huangfu Yun’s face, can not help but show excitement.

“Well, Mr. Zhuang, this is all the information of our French Frey family donations, including the original information such as the decree signed by the then French president on behalf of the country to accept its gifts, are in here.”

After hearing Zhuang Rui’s words, Bass picked up a large sealed kraft paper envelope from his own desk.

Zhuang Rui realized that on top of the desk, there was the same envelope sitting there, so it must be the collection of the Louvre’s Asian Department.