搜尋史籍,發(fa)現(xian)有關陸探微(wei)的(de)生平(ping)活動資料非常少(shao)。《歷(li)代(dai)名(ming)畫記(ji))中載(zai):“陸探微(wei),上(shang)品上(shang),吳(wu)人(ren)也。宋明帝時,常在侍從(cong),丹青(qing)(qing)之妙,最(zui)推工者。”這是有關陸探微(wei)生平(ping)正面書寫的(de)唯一記(ji)載(zai)。從(cong)中大(da)體可(ke)知,陸探微(wei)是吳(wu)人(ren),即今(jin)蘇州地(di)區人(ren),南朝(chao)宋明帝時的(de)宮(gong)廷(ting)畫家,常在皇帝左右(you)侍奉,在當時畫技最(zui)高(gao),最(zui)諳丹青(qing)(qing)妙法(fa)。
但(dan)是(shi)(shi),有(you)(you)關(guan)(guan)陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)在社會生(sheng)活中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)體現個(ge)(ge)人(ren)(ren)品格的(de)(de)行為(wei)(wei)舉止、言(yan)談風貌則語焉不(bu)(bu)(bu)詳。《南(nan)史(shi)》中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)記錄(lu)他(ta)(ta)人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)兩段文字涉及陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei),如宗炳之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)孫(sun)宗測傳(chuan)載:“魚復侯子(zi)(zi)響(xiang)(xiang)為(wei)(wei)江州,厚遣贈送(song),測曰(yue):‘少(shao)有(you)(you)狂(kuang)疾,尋山采(cai)(cai)藥遠來(lai)至此(ci),量腹(fu)而進(jin)松術,度形(xing)而依(yi)薛(xue)蘿,淡然已足,豈容(rong)當此(ci)橫施。’子(zi)(zi)響(xiang)(xiang)命駕造之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),測不(bu)(bu)(bu)見。后(hou)子(zi)(zi)響(xiang)(xiang)不(bu)(bu)(bu)告而來(lai),奄至所往,測不(bu)(bu)(bu)得(de)已,巾褐對(dui)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),竟不(bu)(bu)(bu)交(jiao)言(yan)。子(zi)(zi)響(xiang)(xiang)不(bu)(bu)(bu)悅而退。侍中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)王(wang)秀之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)彌所欽慕,乃(nai)令陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)畫(hua)其(qi)形(xing)與己(ji)相對(dui),又(you)貽書曰(yue):‘昔人(ren)(ren)有(you)(you)圖畫(hua)僑、扎,輕以(yi)(yi)自(zi)方(fang)耳。’王(wang)儉亦雅重之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),贈以(yi)(yi)蒲褥(ru)筍席(xi)。”又(you)如晉名士伏玄度之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)曾孫(sun)伏曼容(rong)傳(chuan)載:“曼容(rong)早孤,與母(mu)兄(xiong)客居南(nan)海。……宋明(ming)帝好《周易》,嘗集朝臣(chen)于(yu)(yu)清(qing)暑殿(dian)講,詔曼容(rong)執經。曼容(rong)素美風采(cai)(cai),明(ming)帝恒以(yi)(yi)方(fang)嵇叔夜,使吳人(ren)(ren)陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)畫(hua)叔夜像以(yi)(yi)賜(si)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。”這(zhe)些也(ye)僅是(shi)(shi)說(shuo)明(ming)陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)是(shi)(shi)一(yi)個(ge)(ge)畫(hua)工(gong)(gong),既無(wu)官(guan)職封號,也(ye)非出生(sheng)世(shi)家(jia)的(de)(de)名士。按照中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國史(shi)傳(chuan)的(de)(de)著(zhu)述慣(guan)例(li),只要陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)有(you)(you)一(yi)官(guan)半(ban)職,在記載中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)(shi)不(bu)(bu)(bu)會疏漏的(de)(de)。又(you)假設(she)陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)是(shi)(shi)位名士,那必定是(shi)(shi)擅(shan)長清(qing)談,交(jiao)際廣泛(fan),在同(tong)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)集錄(lu)此(ci)類逸事(shi)的(de)(de)劉義慶(qing)《世(shi)說(shuo)新(xin)語》中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)怎么會不(bu)(bu)(bu)著(zhu)一(yi)字呢?與陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)齊名的(de)(de)另一(yi)位大畫(hua)家(jia)東(dong)晉顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)卻(que)不(bu)(bu)(bu)乏記載。顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)是(shi)(shi)一(yi)位集才子(zi)(zi)名士、官(guan)銜貴(gui)寵于(yu)(yu)一(yi)身的(de)(de)畫(hua)家(jia)。他(ta)(ta)博學(xue)(xue)多才,畫(hua)藝(yi)高超(chao),又(you)擅(shan)長清(qing)談玄學(xue)(xue),故(gu)流傳(chuan)典故(gu)很多,像《晉書》、《文選》、《世(shi)說(shuo)新(xin)語·文學(xue)(xue)篇》、《先秦漢魏晉南(nan)北(bei)朝詩》都(dou)有(you)(you)關(guan)(guan)于(yu)(yu)顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事(shi)跡或其(qi)詩文的(de)(de)收錄(lu)。顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)志在詩文書畫(hua),雖在軍政(zheng)上無(wu)所作為(wei)(wei),但(dan)從某種意義上看他(ta)(ta)卻(que)是(shi)(shi)一(yi)個(ge)(ge)成功的(de)(de)政(zheng)客,終(zhong)(zhong)日周旋于(yu)(yu)上流社會的(de)(de)權臣(chen)貴(gui)族間,游山玩水聲(sheng)色(se)犬馬,無(wu)所不(bu)(bu)(bu)事(shi)。他(ta)(ta)與當時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)權貴(gui)桓溫、殷仲堪、桓玄俱交(jiao)往甚多,宮闈政(zheng)事(shi)沉浮不(bu)(bu)(bu)定,侍奉的(de)(de)權貴(gui)交(jiao)替(ti)滅亡,而顧(gu)在官(guan)場的(de)(de)地位卻(que)始終(zhong)(zhong)巍然不(bu)(bu)(bu)動,甚至在桓玄被殺后(hou),還被提升為(wei)(wei)散騎常(chang)侍。根據(ju)對(dui)顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)這(zhe)些經歷的(de)(de)描述,可(ke)以(yi)(yi)從反面(mian)來(lai)推斷陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)在那個(ge)(ge)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)和社會中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)基本(ben)(ben)生(sheng)存狀態。陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)與顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)最大差別在于(yu)(yu)顧(gu)愷(kai)(kai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)始終(zhong)(zhong)處于(yu)(yu)社會與文化的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心,而陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)則在邊緣(yuan),無(wu)論是(shi)(shi)官(guan)場,還是(shi)(shi)士人(ren)(ren)占主導的(de)(de)文化圈,對(dui)陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)都(dou)沒有(you)(you)認同(tong),也(ye)許(xu)他(ta)(ta)們(men)根本(ben)(ben)就沒關(guan)(guan)注他(ta)(ta)。陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)只不(bu)(bu)(bu)過是(shi)(shi)一(yi)個(ge)(ge)技(ji)藝(yi)高妙的(de)(de)畫(hua)工(gong)(gong),地位卑微(wei),是(shi)(shi)不(bu)(bu)(bu)可(ke)與他(ta)(ta)們(men)平起平坐的(de)(de)一(yi)分(fen)子(zi)(zi)。但(dan)一(yi)位真正的(de)(de)藝(yi)術家(jia)終(zhong)(zhong)究是(shi)(shi)以(yi)(yi)其(qi)藝(yi)術本(ben)(ben)身來(lai)展(zhan)現價值與意義的(de)(de)。陸探(tan)(tan)微(wei)在后(hou)來(lai)的(de)(de)畫(hua)史(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)享有(you)(you)盛譽即為(wei)(wei)明(ming)證。
陸(lu)探微擅肖像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)、人(ren)物,學(xue)東(dong)晉顧(gu)(gu)愷之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),兼(jian)工蟬(chan)雀、馬匹、木屋,亦寫山水(shui)草木。多為(wei)(wei)宮廷貴族寫照,當(dang)時(shi)推為(wei)(wei)最(zui)(zui)工。南朝(chao)齊謝赫評其(qi)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)說:“窮理盡性,事(shi)絕言象(xiang),包前孕后,古今獨立,非復激揚所(suo)能稱贊。但(dan)價(jia)重之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)極乎上(shang),上(shang)品之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)外(wai),無他寄言,故(gu)屈(qu)標(biao)第一等。”第一品共有(you)五人(ren),陸(lu)列為(wei)(wei)首位。唐張(zhang)彥遠在《歷代(dai)名畫(hua)(hua)(hua)記》謂:“陸(lu)公(gong)參(can)靈酌妙(miao),動(dong)與神(shen)會。筆跡勁利(li),如錐刀馬。秀骨清像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),似(si)覺生動(dong),令(ling)人(ren)檁檁若對神(shen)明。”又因筆勢連綿(mian)不(bu)斷,稱為(wei)(wei)“一筆畫(hua)(hua)(hua)。后人(ren)把(ba)他和(he)(he)顧(gu)(gu)愷之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)并稱“顧(gu)(gu)陸(lu)”,號為(wei)(wei)“密體”,以別于張(zhang)僧(seng)繇、吳道子之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)“疏體’。史有(you)以曹(cao)不(bu)興、顧(gu)(gu)愷之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、陸(lu)探微、張(zhang)僧(seng)繇合稱“六朝(chao)四大家(jia)(jia)”。浙西甘露(lu)寺大殿后尚有(you)陸(lu)探微畫(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)菩薩。畫(hua)(hua)(hua)跡有(you)隋朝(chao)官本《黃(huang)帝戰涿鹿圖(tu)(tu)》、《燕(yan)太子丹圖(tu)(tu)》、《孫氏水(shui)戰圖(tu)(tu)》等十二卷,著(zhu)錄于《貞觀公(gong)私(si)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)史》。裴孝源注:“私(si)家(jia)(jia)搜訪所(suo)得,先無題記可考。”南宋(song)趙與勤藏有(you)《降靈文殊圖(tu)(tu)》,相傳(chuan)是宣和(he)(he)內(nei)府之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物,著(zhu)錄于《云(yun)煙過眼錄》。子綏(sui)、弘肅(su)亦善畫(hua)(hua)(hua),綏(sui)尤著(zhu)名,工畫(hua)(hua)(hua)佛像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)、人(ren)物,以麻紙(zhi)繪(hui)釋迦像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)為(wei)(wei)最(zui)(zui)妙(miao),因麻紙(zhi)不(bu)易受墨,向(xiang)為(wei)(wei)“丹青(qing)家(jia)(jia)所(suo)難(nan)”。
吳(wu)人(ren),常侍從(cong)宋明帝左(zuo)右,妙絕丹青,長(chang)人(ren)物故實,兼營山(shan)水草木,參靈(ling)酌妙,動與神(shen)會。其作佛(fo)畫及古(gu)圣賢像,筆(bi)跡勁(jing)利如(ru)錐(zhui)刀(dao),蓋(gai)移書法之(zhi)用筆(bi)于畫法,自然秀(xiu)骨天成(cheng),體運遒舉。與愷之(zhi)齊名,古(gu)人(ren)謂其風神(shen)遒舉,筆(bi)力頓挫,一(yi)點一(yi)拂,動覺新奇,非虛言(yan)也(ye)。謝赫云:畫有六(liu)法,自古(gu)作者,鮮能備之(zhi),唯陸探微、衛協(xie)備該之(zhi)矣。又云:窮(qiong)理盡性,事絕言(yan)象(xiang),包前孕后,古(gu)今獨立(li),非復(fu)激揚(yang)所(suo)能稱贊。子(zi)綏(sui)及弘肅,皆善畫。