Painting in National Palace Museum, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) part1

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of paintings from the Qing dynasty! This period saw a flourishing of Chinese art, and these works showcase the range of styles and techniques used by some of the most renowned painters of the time. You can explore works such as Cats and Butterflies of Longevity, Activities of the Twelve Lunar Months: The Twelfth Month, The Five Purities, Summer Mountains and Misty Rain, After Wang Wei's "Snow Over Rivers and Mountains", The Peach Blossom Fishing Boat, Peonies, Green Mountains and White Clouds, After Wang Meng's "Mountain Dwelling on a Summer Day" and Along the River During the Ch'ing-ming Festival. Come take a look at these incredible pieces today!

1. Cats and Butterflies of Longevity

Shen Zhenlin was a painter from Wuxian, China. He served in the Qing court painting academy during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns. Shen specialized in figure and portrait painting, but was also skilled in painting birds, flowers, and landscapes from life.

2. Activities of the Twelve Lunar Months: The Twelfth Month

This painting is one of a set of twelve that was done during the early Qianlong reign (1736-1795). It shows a landscape with snow and frozen waters. The buildings in the painting recede realistically into the distance.

3. The Five Purities

Yun Shouping was a talented artist from Wujin, Jiangsu. He was skilled in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. He was originally known for his landscape paintings, but he later turned to painting birds and flowers.

4. Summer Mountains and Misty Rain

Wang Hui was one of the "Four Wangs" of the early Qing dynasty. He was a native of Changshu in Jiangsu and excelled in painting since childhood. He received instruction from two of the other Four Wangs, Wang Jian and Wang Shimin.

5. After Wang Wei's "Snow Over Rivers and Mountains"

Wang Shih-min was the grandson of Wang Hsi-chueh, prime minister in the late Ming dynasty.

6. The Peach Blossom Fishing Boat

Wang Hui was a native of Ch'ang-shu in Kiangsu who studied landscape painting under Wang Shih-min (1592-1680) and Wang Chien (1598-1677) as a youth.

7. Peonies

Yun Shou-p'ing was a native of Wu-chin (modern Ch'ang-chou, Kiangsu) who grew up in a family of limited means. This prevented him from attending the examinations for civil office, but he devoted himself to studying nonetheless.

8. Green Mountains and White Clouds

Wu Li was a native of Ch'ang-shu, Kiangsu. He was a student of Wang Chien and Wang Shih-min.

9. After Wang Meng's "Mountain Dwelling on a Summer Day"

Wang Yuan-ch'i was a scholar and artist who served as a personal painter-connoisseur for the K'ang-hsi emperor. He was also one of the editors of an imperial compilation of painting and calligraphy.

10. Along the River During the Ch'ing-ming Festival