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拍品專文
Although unsigned, there is absolutely no doubt as to the artist of this superb double portrait in one of the more imposing crystal bottles of the genre - it has Ma Shaoxuan's signature in every nuance of style, technique and extraordinary sensitivity.
It is a unique combination of portraits for Ma, combining two Beijing opera stars, both famous tan actors, playing female roles, with the elder of the two, Shi Xiaofu, shown in winter clothing. According to E. Curtis (Reflected Glory in a Bottle), he was born around 1837 and retired from the stage and died around 1900. A native of Suzhou, Shi arrived in Beijing around 1850 and began his study of female roles (women having been forbidden to appear on stage since the time of the Qianlong Emperor. Later Shi became famous as a teacher, active in the administrative affairs of the Theatre Guild.
The younger figure in female clothing is Wang Yaoqing, who, according to Curtis (ibid.), was registered in 1904 by the Shengpingshu, the Imperial Household Bureau of Theatrical Entertainments. Wang had achieved great fame in the drama Silang Tanmu (Silang visits his mother). Despite the eleventh-century setting of the piece, Wang created a sensation by appearing in stylish Manchu lady's costume dating from the nineteenth century, establishing a standard style for the role thereafter.
It is a unique combination of portraits for Ma, combining two Beijing opera stars, both famous tan actors, playing female roles, with the elder of the two, Shi Xiaofu, shown in winter clothing. According to E. Curtis (Reflected Glory in a Bottle), he was born around 1837 and retired from the stage and died around 1900. A native of Suzhou, Shi arrived in Beijing around 1850 and began his study of female roles (women having been forbidden to appear on stage since the time of the Qianlong Emperor. Later Shi became famous as a teacher, active in the administrative affairs of the Theatre Guild.
The younger figure in female clothing is Wang Yaoqing, who, according to Curtis (ibid.), was registered in 1904 by the Shengpingshu, the Imperial Household Bureau of Theatrical Entertainments. Wang had achieved great fame in the drama Silang Tanmu (Silang visits his mother). Despite the eleventh-century setting of the piece, Wang created a sensation by appearing in stylish Manchu lady's costume dating from the nineteenth century, establishing a standard style for the role thereafter.