CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIÈME SIÈCLE

A pair of reverse glass paintings with antiquities motifs, these works provide a rare record of artistic and commercial exchange between China and the West in the eighteenth century. They depict the antiquities theme favored by the European market, carefully rendering objects typical of Qianlong period court display. The compositions follow European still life conventions while respecting the traditional Chinese logic of antiquities painting. Executed in the distinctive reverse painting technique on glass, the works convey the brilliance of cloisonné enamel, the texture of carved wooden stands, and the sheen of metal with rich, saturated color. These paintings both catered to Western imaginings of Chinese courtly taste and demonstrate the ingenuity of Qing artisans in adapting to export markets, making them exemplary objects for the study of eighteenth century cross cultural artistic dialogue and export craftsmanship.