Imperial Illusions
IMAGES
Yao Wenhan and others, scenic illusion in the east bay of the Retreat for Cultivating Harmony, c. 1774–77. Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, 323.4 × 304.3 cm. Palace Museum, Beijing.
Wang Youxue, Yao Wenhan, and others, scenic illusion in the main bay of the Retreat for Cultivating Harmony, 1776. Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, 308 × 333 cm. Palace Museum, Beijing.
Wang Youxue, Yao Wenhan, and others, scenic illusion in the Bower of Purest Jade, 1775. Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, 317 × 366.5 cm. Palace Museum, Beijing.
Anonymous court artists, Qianlong Watching Peacocks in Their Pride, 1761. Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, 347 × 537 cm. Palace Museum, Beijing, Gu6512.
Detail of empty chair, from Watching Peacocks in Their Pride.
Anonymous court painters, scenic illusion in situ in the Nurturing Celebration Palace (eighteenth century). Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, dimensions unknown. Palace Museum, Beijing. After Wang, Zijincheng yuanzhuang yu yuanchuang.
Wang Youxue and other Wish-Fulfilling Studio painters, Studio of Exhaustion from Diligent Service (1775–79). Scenic illusions affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, various dimensions. Palace Museum, Beijing. After Chang, Hongqi, and Ng, “Coda,” 210, figure 11.
Anonymous court painters, scenic illusion installed on the upper-story north wall of the Retirement Studio, 1777. Scenic illusion affixed hanging, ink and colors on silk, 6.6 square meters. Palace Museum, Beijing. After Berliner, The Emperor’s Private Paradise, 184.
Detail of moon gate on north wall scenic illusion in the Retirement Studio.
Four rooms created using the distance-point method of perspective. From Nian Xiyao, The Study of Vision. The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Douce Chin. B. 2, p. 20r.
Detail of illusionistic ceiling paintings. From Nian Xiyao, The Study of Vision. The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Douce Chin. B. 2, p. 52v
Detail of the second illustration of the “layer method” for spatial recession. From Nian Xiyao, The Study of Vision. The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Douce Chin. B. 2, p. 55r.
Ilantai, Maze (Huayuan Zhengmian), plate 5 of Pictures of the European Palaces and Waterworks, 1781–87. Engraving, 91 × 54 cm. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (86- B26695).
Ilantai, west façade of the Calm Seas Palace (Haiyantang Ximian), plate 10 of Pictures of the European Palaces and Waterworks, 1781–87. Engraving, 91 × 54 cm. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (86- B26695).
Ilantai, perspective paintings east of the lake (Hudong Xianfa Hua), plate 20 of Pictures of the European Palaces and Waterworks, 1781–87. Engraving, 91 × 54 cm. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (86- B26695).