The Qianlong Emperor in Ceremonial Armor on Horseback
Giuseppe Castiglione · 1739
Why it's great
The Qianlong Emperor sits on a horse in shining armor, in a formal portrait. Giuseppe Castiglione painted the emperor in 1739, mixing Western realism with Chinese traditions. Qianlong ruled China for 60 years in the 1700s. It's a proud portrait of one of China's greatest emperors.
Where to see it
📍 The Palace MuseumBeijing, China
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Giuseppe Castiglione was born in Milan, Italy, and became a Jesuit brother, traveling as a missionary to China. He took the name Lang Shining and served as a court painter for three Chinese emperors. He blended European realism with Chinese styles. He died in Beijing in 1766.
