林希周(19世紀中後期)，原名蓮水，字香渠，號慶鐘。原籍福建泉州，其因戴潮春事件隨軍來臺，後定居竹塹城關帝廟旁。曾任臺澎兵備道「紅筆書爺」，是臺灣道重要幕僚。光緒20年(1894)中舉，惟因臺灣割讓，功名未竟。日治初期，仍可見其出席文人雅集。林希周工花鳥、人物畫，畫家范耀庚(1877-1950)亦曾受他指導。傳世作品稀少，本件由其後人捐贈，尤為珍貴。

Lin Xi-zhou, originally named Lian-shui, courtesy name Xiang-qu, and style name Qing-zhong, was a native of Quanzhou, Fujian. He moved to Taiwan following the troop quelling Dai Chao-chun Incident. They eventually settled near the Guandi Temple in Tek-chhàm.

Lin served as the "Red Pen Master", an important advisor to the military commander of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. In 1894, he achieved in the imperial examination system as Juren, but his career was cut short due to the cession of Taiwan to Japan. During the early years of Japanese rule, he continued to participate in various literati gatherings.

He excelled in painting both flowers and birds as well as figures. The renowned painter Fan Yao-geng(1877-1950) received guidance from him. Few of his works have survived; the piece in this exhibition, donated by his descendants, is especially precious.