Chinese Qing Dynasty Ancestor Portrait, Senior Official First Rank, 19th Century

An impressively sized 19th century Chinese Qing dynasty ancestral portrait painting of a senior official of the first rank in bamboo frame with silk mat.

Displays crisp, fine line work, rich, vibrant colors, and exquisitely executed details throughout. The artist’s painstakingly hand-painted and inked recreation of the intricate embroidery designs of the distinguished subject’s imperial robes in particular invite and reward closer inspection.

Ancestor portraits have a long history in China stemming from filial piety, with family members commissioning them to commemorate deceased relatives. Officials of the first rank were entitled to wear a ruby or red stone finial upon their hat with a pearl set beneath it, as this ancestor appears to do.

Presented in its original very well-crafted wood-backed vintage bamboo frame with silk mat under glass.

Colors are best represented by image 5.

Dimensions listed are overall; sight is H 47 in. x W 21.5 in. (Per the previous seller, it’s possible that this painting appears on page 298 of “The Horizon Book of the Arts of China”, though we have not yet confirmed that.)

Dimensions
Height: 60 inches
Width: 33.25 inches
Depth: 1.50 inches

Condition, good.
Wear consistent with age and use. Art: very good antique condition; some faintly darker marks on paper, possibly natural; bit of wear to light blue undergarment hem; faint moisture discoloration along bottom. Mat: moisture signs at bottom. Frame: minor nicks. Glass: 3 inch scratch.