Large painting of Chinese dignitary (about 70 years old) - Empress

Chinese Dignitary Family - Chinese Emperor of the Qing Dynasty - Modern Version

Product Description:

- Old reproduction portrait of Chinese ancestors dating from the middle of the 20th century, also called Chinese dignitaries painting.
- These paintings are from a traditional Chinese art that dates back to ancient times and allows descendants to maintain a connection with their ancestors.
- This painting is entirely handmade in our workshop in Foshan (southern China).
- The painting is done on a fine silk canvas covered with rice paper.- Total canvas size: 224 cm x 144 cm
- Inner frame size (beige): 167cm x 95cm

Chinese History - An art based on strict codes and criteria:

- The portraits of Chinese ancestors are painted according to two codes: the need for verisimilitude and the wish to embellish the portrait of the Chinese dignitary.
- This type of painting respects very strict codified criteria and has a ritual function. Indeed, unlike Western portraits, Chinese ancestor portraits depict static ancestors whose faces are expressionless.
- The portraits of Chinese ancestors represent a person in a motionless posture in festive dress (dress and mandarin hat) or in the costume of a dignitary or civil servant. They were made by painters until the arrival of photography, and the costumes had to be related to the social rank of the person. These costumes also differ according to eras, dynasties and ranks.
- Since the Ming, the emblems of the marks of rank are distributed as follows:
* 1st class – White Crane
* 2nd Class - Golden Pheasant
* 3rd class – Peacock
* 4th Class - Wild Goose
* 5th Class – Silver Pheasant
* 6th class – Egret
* 7th Class – Mandarin Duck
* 8th class – Oriole
* 9th Class – Bird of Paradise
 

- We can notice that only the face really changes from one ancestor to another, however, the facial expression always remains neutral. They are always painted in frontal view and in ceremonial clothes.
- The portraits of Chinese ancestors are painted according to two codes: the need for verisimilitude and the wish to embellish the portrait of the Chinese dignitary. The costumes and the luxurious decorations aim to embellish the reality of the ancestors, in order to bring prosperity to their descendants. Decorative elements serve to embellish reality, because the Chinese believe that this luxury will guarantee the prosperity of the family.
- These portraits can represent several generations in frontal view, a clan, a couple or a single person. The Chinese have these canvases in a dedicated place in their house, and sometimes they reserve an entire room for the worship of their ancestors.

An art long ignored all over the world:

- These paintings only interested museums and collectors from the 1980s, because they do not correspond to the standards of European and American countries. Moreover, these paintings do not have a decorative function in China, but rather a private one, and they were made by anonymous artists.
- We offer on our Chinese Objects website probably the most complete series of ancestors at present in France and Europe. Our series includes portraits that refer to different periods of Chinese history, so they are varied to meet all the desires of our customers.
- Our Chinese emperor portraits are all in very good condition. Ideal for decorating a room (Chinese decoration), giving it character and surprising your guests with an atypical and exotic painting.