Ming Dynasty Masterpiece Inspires Awe Worldwide

Quick Smiles:

• A historic Ming Dynasty painting sold for a record $77 million.
• The artwork brilliantly celebrates the connection between art and nature.
• Today in history also honors music, scientific breakthroughs, and inspiring birthdays.

Five years ago, an extraordinary Ming Dynasty painting reached international acclaim, selling for $77 million and setting a record for Chinese classical art.

This breathtaking scroll, titled Ten Views of Lingbi Rock, was created by renowned painter Wu Bin in 1610 after a month-long study of a remarkable stone owned by calligrapher Mi Wanzhong.

Mi Wanzhong watched in awe as Wu Bin immersed himself in his task, blending his attention with the stone to capture it from ten perspectives.

“[Wu] examined it so thoroughly from morning to night that his consciousness merged with it. Then, taking up a piece of old paper, he first painted it from the front and back, but he was not done with his painting. He continued portraying the left and right sides, but the painting was still not finished yet. He went around the stone and portrayed the front, back, left, and right sides diagonally. With the bottom from the front and from the back, [Wu completed] ten views in all.

The scroll’s beauty highlights the deep relationship between Chinese art and the natural world.

Throughout history, this day has seen joyous events beyond masterpieces of art.

In 1781, British forces surrendered at Yorktown, turning the tide of the American Revolution toward independence.

Jon Favreau, a beloved comedic talent and director, was born on this day 58 years ago.

Mother Teresa’s beatification by Pope John Paul II drew worldwide admiration in 2003.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average first crossed 12,000, marking a milestone for financial markets in 2006.

Music history was made 124 years ago with the premiere of Edward Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March in Liverpool — a tune now iconic at graduations.

At Yale, Elgar’s friend Samuel Sanford ensured the melody’s majestic debut for commencement ceremonies.

French explorer Alain Bombard bravely demonstrated human endurance in 1952 by crossing the ocean in a small inflatable boat, relying on fishing and minimal provisions, later sharing his story in a celebrated memoir.

Groundbreaking scientific discovery also took place on this date when Dr. Selman Waksman and his team identified streptomycin, the first remedy for tuberculosis, and he generously used his success to fund microbiology research.

Happy 80th birthday to John Lithgow, whose stellar career has illuminated both stage and screen.

Let these stories spark inspiration and remind us of the beauty and optimism in our shared global history. For more uplifting updates, keep exploring with us!

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