CHINA: The last Ming Emperor Chongzhen & his Consort. MALLET, old print 1683
'Roi et Reine de la Chine avant l'Invasion des Tartares'. Artist/engraver/cartographer: Allain Manesson Mallet. Provenance: "Description de l'Univers, contenant les differents systemes du Monde, les Cartes generales & particulieres de la Geographie Ancienne & Moderne: Les Plans & les Profils des principales Villes & des autres lieux considerables de la Terre; avec les portraits de Souverains qui y commandent, leurs Blasons, Titres & Livrees: Et les Moeurs, Religions, Gouvernements & divers habillemens de chaque Nation", dedie'e au Roy, par Allain Manesson Mallet. Paris, Chez Denys Thierry, Rue S. Jacques, MDCLXXXIII [First edition, Paris, 1683]. Type: Original 17th century copperplate print. The King shown in the print is the last Ming Emperor Chóngzhēn (崇禎). In April 1644, the Ming capital of Beijing was about to be captured. Rather than face capture, humiliation and probable execution at the hands of the newly-proclaimed Shun Dynasty, Chongzhen arranged a feast and gathered all members of the imperial household aside from his sons. Crying "Why must you be born into my family?", he killed them with his sword. Then, still wearing his imperial attire, Chongzhen fled to Jingshan Hill behind the palace and committed suicide when he hanged himself from a tree.
Size: 1460px × 2375px
Location: China
Photo credit: © Antiqua Print Gallery / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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