Ye Yanlan

with two seals of the artist, and one collector's seal. Frontispiece by the artist himself. Annotations by six artists including Liang Dingfen, Mao Guangsheng, and Ye Gongchuo

香港，香港大學馮平山圖書館，〈廣東文物展覽會〉，一九四○年二月二十二日至二十九日

著錄：
〈廣東文物．集國父遺墨〉（中國文化協進會，一九四一年一月），頁93，圖版244

-The paper of the frontispiece has turned old and insect bites can be found on top. Minor foxing can be found on the silk of the painting, which can be improved by restoration. Otherwise, generally in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

葉恭綽家族舊藏（編號242-244）

本輯作品三件，乃葉恭綽家族舊藏葉衍蘭、恭綽祖孫二人畫作。葉衍蘭，字蘭臺，又字南雪，廣東番禺人。咸豐年間進士，歷官戶部主事、軍機章京，為官居京廿餘年，歸里後主講廣州越華書院十年，造就人才，冒廣生、潘飛聲等皆列其門牆。葉恭綽出生於祖父居京期間，自幼跟隨左右，接受舊學教育，入民國，歷任交通總長、北京國學館館長職。三十年代脫離政界，專心書畫鑑藏及藝文之事。祖孫二人均有從政經歷，骨子內終究文人本色，筆下無論畫竹、抑或為前賢寫真，無不出諸理想與心緒之寄託。

註：葉衍蘭性清高澹泊，視眾生汲汲求官逐貨，乃與蟪蛄計春秋、與蜉蝣爭旦暮，故為京官卅年仍未晉身顯宦，一八八二年辭官歸粵，主講廣州越華書院，不與當道往還，專心詞學及詞籍文獻整理刊刻。於繪事則喜人像，名賢仕女皆入其畫，身後有〈清代學者象傳〉成書。葉氏不滿晚清詩壇時政氣息過濃，獨崇「美人君子，別有寄託」艷體詩，將之歸於詩、騷詩學旗下，其〈海雲閣詩鈔〉、〈秋夢庵詞鈔〉中多寫男女情事之作，清而實腴，麗而有則，低迴纏綿。文獻載蘭臺所作〈花影吹笙圖〉、〈梅雪幽閨圖〉皆為時人所寶，由畫名而念想，皆溫婉嫻靜一路仕女畫風格。一八九二年，蘭臺刊印〈秦淮八艷圖詠〉，親筆寫李香君、馬湘蘭、柳如是等八位金陵名妓小像，並撰小傳，附與張景祁等詠八艷詞作三十二闋。本卷所繪李香君與〈圖詠〉中香君小像皆取坐姿，然刻劃更具體豐富：髮髻鬆綰，祗綴金錨小步搖，櫻唇蛾眉，似露愁容，態慵懶，坐於桃花樹下，右手托腮，左手執湘竹扇，扇股竹紋斑斑如淚痕，竹乎？人乎？畫中香君應已入侯家，卻露巢難定，翠扇恩疏，恰如蘭臺詞中所寫「祗伴琴邊清侶，禪燈夢醒」。葉蘭臺有兩本李香君像，一為他人所得，一即本卷，由其侄輩葉次周寶藏廿年，經亂不失。卷中存畫家自題引首，應次周所請題跋者梁鼎芬、冒廣生為蘭臺門下高足，沈澤棠、汪兆鏞則乃與葉氏並稱「粵東三家」詞人沈世良、汪瑔子侄輩後人，與葉家皆具淵源。

一九四○年，以葉恭綽為代表倡議、發起，在香港組織「廣東文物展覽會」，編製巨冊圖錄研究文集，可謂現代史中最具學術份量展覽，一時全城轟動，觀眾洶湧如潮，本卷即由葉次周提供參展，並刊載於圖錄。不知何時一度歸葉蘭臺門人冒鶴亭，一九五七年，冒氏以八五高齡赴京，將此卷還贈老友葉恭綽，重歸故家，遐菴遂恭錄祖父當年於〈秦淮八艷圖詠〉中所詠李香君一詞。所寄託者，乃鶴亭尊師重友之情；所感觸者，不無葉氏對廿載前那場轟動香港的展覽的回憶罷。