Celebrating the Year of the Horse: the treasure of a Qing Court Jesuit Painter

Items

• Ten Horses Depiction, Snow Scattered Eagle
  Castiglione was commissioned to create portraits of fine horses presented as tribute from vassal states to the west for the Ch’ing court. Painted almost life-size, his use of Chinese techniques also incorporates Western methods of chiaroscuro and perspective, making the life-like colors and forms convincing. The portrait of the Ch’ih-hua-ying horse is one of set of 10 from 1743.
• Ten Horses Depiction, Red Flower Eagle
  Castiglione was commissioned to create portraits of fine horses presented as tribute from vassal states to the west for the Ch’ing court. Painted almost life-size, his use of Chinese techniques also incorporates Western methods of chiaroscuro and perspective, making the life-like colors and forms convincing. The portrait of the Ch’ih-hua-ying horse is one of set of 10 from 1743.