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The Kangxi Emperor’s southern tour

The Kangxi Emperor’s southern tour
(17th century)

Medium
pigments on silk

Measurements
166.8 × 96.5 cm (image and sheet)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by The Yulgilbar Foundation, 2008

Gallery location
Not on display

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About this work

This monumental court painting represents the southern inspection tour of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662–1723), who made three such tours of southern China to befriend and pacify the Chinese scholar-gentry class. A retinue of court officials on horseback can be seen at the bottom of the painting, moving slowly through the landscape along pathways and over bridges. Blue and green mountains surround a lake that is punctuated with temples and pavilions. In the lower left corner is the artist’s signature: ‘Painted with respect by your humble official Yu Zhiding’. In the upper right corner is a seal stating: ‘Treasure seen by Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736–96)’.

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
China

Inscription
inscribed in brush and ink (in Chinese characters) (in image) l.l.: (Painted with respect by your humble official Yu Zhiding)
sealed in red ink (in Chinese characters) (in image) u.r.: (treasure seen by Qianlong (emperor 1736-96))

Accession Number
2008.512

Department
Asian Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation