The beloved wife of 86-year-old famous Chinese calligrapher and painter Fan Zeng passed away two years ago. On Wednesday (10th), he suddenly posted on social media to announce his remarriage, revealing that his fourth wife was named Xu Meng. He also published a handwritten letter saying that he suffered a mild cerebral infarction and that "Ms. Xu Meng's meticulous care has made me fully recovered physically and mentally." He claimed that their marriage was a "good story in the art world"; the post also showed a photo of his newlywed wife standing by and watching him paint. Xu Meng, with her long black hair, looks beautiful and quite young. It is said that the age difference between the two is at least 50 years.
According to reports from Upstream News and Phoenix.com, Fan Zeng wrote in a handwritten letter: "It has been nearly three years since my beloved wife, Nanli, passed away. Initially, it was grief and loneliness, but also a mild stroke, which made my artistic career difficult. Ms. Xu Meng's meticulous care has helped me recover both physically and mentally. She not only cared for me but also encouraged me to continue my artistic pursuits and contribute to China's fine cultural traditions. Our deep friendship and friendship, after careful consideration, have decided to tie the knot and officially register our marriage. This is a true story in the art world, and it is a testament to this."
Fan Zeng is hailed as a master of calligraphy and painting, known alongside Feng Qiyong and Yuan Xingpei as one of the "Three Masters of Chinese Studies." He is particularly adept at ink figure painting, and his works have repeatedly fetched record-breaking prices at auction. His painting "Sparrows on Bamboo" sold for HK$40.55 million at an autumn auction in Hong Kong. In 2011, Fan Zeng ranked 25th among the top 30 Chinese painters by auction revenue worldwide, and his net worth is rumored to be as high as 1 billion RMB.
