The Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts is also located on Vasilyevsky Island, which is indeed very close. It only takes about ten minutes to walk there.
After it was renamed the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in later generations, it has become one of the four major art academies in the world. However, art is too expensive to learn. Even though tuition fees in Russia are already very low, ordinary families cannot afford it.
Moreover, Li Yu's art level is only that he learned watercolor brushes and sketching in elementary school art class, and he really doesn't know much about art.
However, just like science, the separation between the various disciplines today is far less than that of later generations. Some artists are able to wear multiple abilities and cover a wide range of fields.
Those who engage in literature also want to study art, those who engage in art also want to learn about engineering design, and those who engage in music also want to learn about quantum mechanics...
Moreover, art itself is very attractive, so apart from artists, there are many people who like it.
As a great Russian writer, Tolstoy has many fans, and Repin himself is one of Tolstoy's fans.
Later generations can see many portraits of Toon, many of which were painted by Repin.
Repin painted a total of twelve portraits of Tolstoy, twenty-five sketches, eight sketches of family members, seventeen illustrations of the writer's works, and three plaster statues.
It can be completely seen that Repin respects and loves Toon.
The Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts is a relatively large main building, and the overall campus area is not large, so after submitting the request, they quickly found Repin in a studio who was painting for Toon.
Tolstoy is already a classic image with a big beard, and next to him is his wife Sofia.
Fortunately, Li Yu came at a coincidental time. Before long, Repin put down his painting brush and wanted to rest for a while.
They noticed Li Yu and others outside the door.
"Are they students?" Repin thought they were students from the Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts.
Katz immediately said: "Sorry to bother you, my name is Katz. On behalf of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Letters, I am here to submit a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature to Mr. Tolstoy."
Tolstoy was very calm after hearing this: "I know. It doesn't mean anything if you always take such pains to nominate, but never actually award the award."
He has looked down on this matter. After all, he is a 75-year-old man and has experienced different treatment from several literary awards. The value of fame and fortune is no longer that important.
Katz was a little embarrassed after hearing this: "The selection process is done by the School of Liberal Arts, and I don't know what happened in it."
Tolstoy looked at Li Yu who was standing aside: "Are you... Japanese?"
Li Yu was also a little embarrassed, thinking that he was a little devil.
Li Yu had no choice but to explain: "Tuo Weng, I'm from China."
"China?" Tolstoy has never been to China, but he still has traditional impressions of Chinese people, which are some images of long braids that have appeared in Western comics.
Li Yu continued: "I cut my braids."
Kaz also introduced him: "His name is Li Yu, he is..."
"Ah, I've heard of you!" Repin actually interrupted Katz, "You are the scientist who wrote "Star Wars"!"
Well, it turns out that science fiction is more widely spread.
Li Yu smiled and said: "That's right, but it's not just my fault. The polishing part was done by Ms. Bicheng next to me, and the translation of the English and French versions was done by another German from China.
Madam."
Repin said to Tolstoy: "Have you read it? That science fiction novel is very interesting and the imagination is so amazing. It seems to be written by a top artist."
Tolstoy said: "I have read it, and it is indeed a very good read. And I not only know the novel, but I also know that you are a top person in the field of science."
Li Yu said: "Tou Weng deserves the prize."
Their communication can be in English.
As mentioned before, a typical feature of education in Europe today is to know multiple languages. In addition to his mother tongue, Tolstoy himself can also speak at least English, French and German.
Most Russian aristocratic families can at least speak French, because they consider French to be a noble language, and many families hire French teachers.
It seems that Tolstoy often pays attention to the news. There is no way he can't help paying attention. After all, some of Li Yu's research results are very influential, such as chaos theory and game theory that have begun to be studied in many industries.
In addition, the King of Sweden personally awarded such a large amount of awards before, and it is still very famous in Europe.
Tolstoy said: "I often read daily and have also read a lot of science fiction. It is a work that imagines the future, which is very different from my work that focuses on the present reality. But I think when everyone reads science fiction,
It must be more enjoyable."
Li Yu laughed and said: "I definitely can't write such profound realist content as Tuo Weng."
Tolstoy's current ideological level has been improving. Not only has he no longer been superstitious about religion as mentioned before, but he has begun to think about some issues independently. He is no longer limited to criticizing society, and has even begun to criticize himself.
It is not easy for an old man in his 70s. After all, after living for such a long time, most people's thinking framework has long been solidified.
The Tsar once wanted to imprison or exile Toon because of some of his late works, but fortunately he did not implement it.
Firstly, it is because Dostoyevsky has a precedent and was exiled by the tsarist government for so many years, which has long aroused social indignation; secondly, Tolstoy is indeed from a good family and was born in a noble family, unlike Dostoyevs.
Key was impoverished almost all his life; and Tolstoy had become famous, and the Tsar was afraid of touching him because of his reputation and public opinion.
But because of his famous work "Resurrection", the Tsarist government and the Orthodox Church criticized him for being against God and not believing in the afterlife, and in 1901 they excommunicated him in the name of the Holy Seminary. This decision caused protests across Russia, and Thor
Stein took it in stride and had no regrets even though it largely cost him the Nobel Prize in Literature.
And he immediately wrote an article criticizing the tsarist government's suppression of students; he also realized that the Russian serfdom system was very harmful, and wanted the tsar to abolish private ownership of land and give as much land to farmers as possible.
Looking at it this way, Tolstoy is really easier to communicate with.
Li Yu still remembered that Einstein and Tagore had met in history, but the meeting between the two was not pleasant.
Einstein was a top physicist, but Tagore was not only a poet, but also a devout Christian.
The dialogue between the two is basically a collision between idealism and materialism.
Judging from the conversation records, Tagore has been preaching the role of consciousness and that without people, there would be no such things as truth and beauty in the world.
As a scientist, Einstein certainly believed that the existence of humans could not affect the correctness of the truth in the universe.
However, he did not want to convince Tagore, and judging from the results, he really could not be convinced, so he just expressed his insistence on each other.
Fortunately, Tolstoy no longer believes in God, which can greatly free him from the constraints of his thoughts and communicate with scientific people like Li Yu.
Otherwise, in the eyes of many people during this period, any problem could be interpreted as "God has already designed it, but humans are too stupid to realize it."
Many scientists also admit that human knowledge is not enough, but they do not think that this is stupidity, but that we should work harder to explore. Moreover, scientists also have the so-called "God" in their hearts, but this God is nature and the universe itself.
In short, if the differences in concepts are too great, it will become a chicken-and-duck talk.
Tolstoy said: "Your works are also very profound, but I can't understand them."
Li Yu understood that he was talking about mathematical content.
Li Yudao: "There is an old saying in China that there are specialties in one's profession."
Li Yu also said it again in Chinese.
Tolstoy smiled and said: "It makes me feel even more regretful to say this. I have never studied Chinese, and I didn't expect there to be such exquisite and short proverbs."
Li Yu sighed lightly: "Chinese culture has a long history and is the longest-lasting culture in the world. However, it is now at a low point and other countries have not tried to understand it in depth."
As a Russian, Tolstoy felt a little bit about this: "Russia was also a backward country back then, and no one wanted to understand our culture. I only know a few translations of ancient Chinese books, but when I read them,
It’s really difficult.”
What he mentioned was obviously "The Analects of Confucius" which Gu Hongming once translated. It is impossible for a foreigner to understand it, even if you think about it.
Li Yu said: "There are still many popular works in China, but they have not been translated into other languages."
Tolstoy said: "It's a pity. I don't know when I will be able to see it. I would like to see how it will be different compared with the literature of our country? I have always known that Chinese is a magical language without letters."
I'm afraid it will be difficult for him in his lifetime, so Li Yu had to say: "Literature itself is a difficult thing to judge. But literature is not the first, martial arts is not the second. It is enough to have an appreciative group."
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. A flash occurred in Tolstoy's mind and he repeated it: "There is no first place in literature, no second place in military affairs..."
He suddenly became enlightened and said with a smile: "Chinese language and culture have simply penetrated the truth of everyone's world. I suddenly understood why I could not win a false name like the Nobel Prize for Literature."
Tolstoy couldn't help but repeat it several times, becoming more and more fond of the Chinese proverb, "It turns out that this is the true meaning of literature."
Li Yu himself was a little confused, wondering why Tolstoy was suddenly in such a good mood.
Tolstoy then thought to himself and said: "From this point of view, my knowledge is still too shallow. You are right, literature is not the first. There is no distinction between high and low in literary works, good and bad, regardless of whether they are good or bad."
There is no number one in serious works or popular novels, but it can be number one in my heart. Today you really solved a huge doubt in my heart, I am so happy!"
Repin is a fan of Toon, and I feel that this sentence can also be applied to his own art creation.
Repin said to Li Yu: "I didn't expect that as a scientist, you also have such views on art. I have rarely seen Toon like this."
Li Yu touched his head and said casually...
Tolstoy felt inspired and said to Repin: "I will go back to the apartment to write immediately. I will put down the portrait painting for today."
Repin said: "But the painting is almost finished..."
Tolstoy said: "I will come again tomorrow."
He stood up and was about to leave, but at the end he did not forget to say to Li Yu: "If you have the chance, be sure to give me a complete collection of Chinese proverbs."
Many people had asked for it before, such as Mark Twain in the United States, but Li Yu didn't have such a book. But seeing Tuo Weng's firm eyes, he had to agree temporarily: "I will try my best."
If you can still buy a complete collection of Xiehouyu before traveling through time, where can I find it now?
Seeing that Tolstoy was about to leave, Lu Bicheng plucked up the courage to ask: "Mr. Tolstoy, can you give me a book signed by you?"
Tolstoy said: "Of course. But I have to go back to work today. If possible, you can buy a copy and come here tomorrow and I will sign it for you."
Unexpectedly, he actually agreed. Lu Bicheng said excitedly: "Thank you, sir!"
Tolstoy smiled and said: "I cannot refuse the request of a beautiful oriental woman."
After Tolstoy finished speaking, he hurriedly left with his wife.
Repin looked at the drawing board in front of him and said helplessly: "I feel like inspiration is bursting out in my mind right now, but I don't know what to draw."
Li Yu smiled and said: "How about Eastern works?"
"That makes sense!" Repin continued, "Stand up quickly and I will draw a portrait of you."
Li Yu was stunned: "We?"
Repin took a new drawing board: "It just so happens that there is nothing else to do today. Look in the mirror and sit down in front of me."
"Ah?" Lu Bicheng was a little stunned.
She knew that portraits had been painted in China since ancient times, but those who received this kind of treatment were only famous nobles or relatives of the emperor.
Fortunately, Li Yu immediately thought that he couldn't miss the opportunity. The other party was Repin, and he took the initiative to ask for a painting for you. It was a dream.
He immediately pulled Lu Bicheng over: "Don't be stunned!"