Imperial Chinese Court Art and Portraiture – Emperors, Ancestors and Jesuits

Imperial Chinese Court Art and Portraiture – Emperors, Ancestors and Jesuits. This lecture explores the origins and evolution of the nature and function of paintings created under an Emperor's patronage by artists of the Imperial School of Art. Court art evolved separately from classical Chinese paintings and included portraiture plus scenes of court life and significant State Events. These were used as visual evidence of the political power of the Emperor and the splendour of his court. The lecture concludes by considering the revolution in court art that occurred in the 18th century as Emperor Qianlong deployed Western artistic skills and techniques brought by Jesuits invited to the Forbidden City.

If you happen to be in Richmond that evening we'd love you to come along in person, no ticket needed, just turn up at Duke Street Church, Richmond TW9 1DH.

How to book this event:

https://tixoom.app/richmond/u8bmlo30 £7

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Mr David Rosier

A Chartered Insurer by profession and a Fellow of the Assurance Medical Society, with extensive international experience as an author and lecturer in Medical Risk Assessment. He has in excess of 25 years of working and living in Asia. Whilst living in Hong Kong (1991-2004) he assembled a collection of approximately 700, predominately Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Imperial and related textiles/costume accessories. Past Committee Member of the Hong Kong Textile Society and frequent speaker on Imperial Insignia and Badges of Rank.

David can organise and lead Imperial Art Tours to China for Societies. In late 2019 the Collection of Imperial Court Costume was acquired, in its entirety, by The Shanghai Musuem, Peoples' Republic of China to be displayed in the new annexe of the museum which opened in 2021.