Qing+Art

May 14, 2007, Tyler Cambell QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT QING ART

1.What is the Qing dynasty? Manchu’s moved to China in 1644 and started the Qing Dynasty, which lasted until 1912 when revolutionaries overthrew it. They admired Chinese art but added a more natural touch to it. The Qing dynasty flourished the most during the reins of two Emperors: Kangxi and Qianlong. Who ruled for 130 years. These emperors encouraged the arts.

2. Was porcelain an important art in the Qing dynasty? Yes, and they dated all the way back to the 18 century! The Chinese porcelain was famous for It’s unique designs. Also when the Chinese traded ceramics it helped enhance the porcelain sales in Europe, and before the Qing dynasty, the world had fewer colors like they didn’t have opaque reds yellows etc..., and the ceramics before the Qing Dynasty was transparent. So yes, I think that porcelain art was important to the Qing Dynasty. Oh yes, did you know that Qing porcelain glazes are still used today? There are three kinds of Qing porcelain: the imperial porcelain, made in Jingdezhen, which resulted in enamels such as oxblood, famille verte, and famille rose; Yixing, a, reddish brown unglazed stoneware made in Jiangsu ware, a white porcelain Fugian and used mostly for Buddhist deities.

3. What did the Qing paintings focus on? I would have to say that early Qing Dynasty paintings were very close to the natural world. Also, the court opened a workshop and a painting bureau. Professional artists in the Qing Dynasty had a taste for painting from Yangzouh a very prosperous city where both wealthy salt merchants and regular customers bought the art.

4. Were the Chinese open to other countries paintings? Yes, in fact they regarded western art so highly, they hired an Italian artist named Giuseppe Castiglione to paint a double portrait of the emperor and his father! How that takes skill to be hired by an imperial emperor of Qing. Especially if you are from another country!

5. What did I learn about the Qing Dynasty? I am pooped, learning about how the Manchu’s conquered China and adopted its customs, learning about how they changed the world of porcelain art and made all these Awesome opaque colors, and learning all about the more natural side of painting. I never knew that China admired western art. Well, I had fun, and I hope you did too.