Qing Dynasty Courtesan Portrait

A portrait of a courtesan, late Qing dynasty oil on canvas, the…
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A portrait of a courtesan, late Qing Dynasty oil on canvas, the young lady seated wearing a pale blue embroidered robe, with one hand clasped supporting her chin, the other holding a book on a table by her side, adorned with jewellery on her wrists, fingers, ears and hair, the face with porcelain like complexion and eyes with direct gaze and slight smile, her long hair parted in the centre and looped to either side, held by flowered hairpins, framed, 59 cm high, 44.5 cm wide. Provenance, Roland Jones Collection, David Jones Collection, Private Collection, Melbourne, Show Catalogue Notes, Catalogue Notes, Courtesans, beautiful, intelligent and cultured young women were sought after by the wealthy merchant class as companions to men of means. Paintings of these idealised beauties were popular throughout the Qing dynasty. Rather than a portrait of an actual person they mainly represented a romanticized idea of the perfect woman. During the19th century these paintings were produced in a variety of media, oil on canvas, gouache on paper and on reverse glass and in a wide range of quality. They also became popular with Westerners who admired their exoticism.

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  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

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