Historical, rare and quality painting depicting an high-ranking official

From Imperial China, Qing Dinasty, mid19th century

Portrait of Mandarin of first class. The rank is established by the square badge painted on the the black garment; the bird represents a crane. The hat button on the court winter hat is a ruby. The artist used ink and color on paper, adopting the technique of ink shading and heightening some traits like the cheekbones (quan in chinese) which in the Chinese tradition, due to the homophony with the word for power (quan) are a sign of high authority.

230cm high x 116cm large

>> In good condition, consistent with age and history, painting unrestored with minor loss of color on the costume probably due to old folding

Note : The bird emblem, a crane, signifies the rank of Mandarin of the first class, associated with the Imperial Court. Mandarin squares, first used in 1391 by the Ming Dynasty depicted birds for civil officials and animals for military ones. The badges used until the Imperial system fell in 1912.

The painting seems a tribute to the ancestor according to the Confucian virtue of filial piety. Only an accurate reading of the paean of praise on top would reveal details of the official . Often these paintings were commissioned by a close relative. The attention centres on the face with the cheekbones and the white long beard which radiates all the charisma and the high-mindedness of the protagonist. With an unusual gesture the right hand partially covers the rank badge, making the high ranking official less intimidating. The costumes are finely and accurately represented. It is a very fine piece. For more information consult "Worshiping the Ancestors, Chinese Commemorative Portaits" a fundamental catalogue published by the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery in Washington DC for a Chinese portrait a exhibition in 2001 and Art of Asia magazines.