Author Description

The Middle Qind dynasty period, the approximately 125 years between the 18th and the early 19th centuries that spanned the reigns of Qianlong through Xianfeng, has been largely overlooked as a low point in Chinese Art. In spite of the splendor of Qianlong's golden era, painitngs of the middle Qing dynasty are not usually considered outstanding for either their creative brilliann ce or technological strides within the greater scheme of China's artistic heritage. However, an understanding of middle Qing painting is crucial to a comprehension of the moving forces behind subsequent developments in Chinese pictorial art. This is the first book that portrays the middle Qing painting. Examples of the works by 62 artists are illustrated in this volume. By including detailed historical facts, the author is able to carefully generate insights into each individual artist's painting by categorizing each artist's style into different schools or methods, translating inscriptions and seals appeared on each painting, and evaluating the intrinsic artistic value of each painting, inscription, and seal based on facts provided. Thus, not only does this volume offer the general reader a brief introduction to Chinese painting of the middle Qing dynasty, it also provides specialists in this field new examples for comparison to those repeatedly reproduced for publication.