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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
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