Crown Prince Jingim/Zhenjin 1243-1286, Yuan Dynasty, China, son Kublai Khan, costume portrait, late 17th, early 18th century ink on paper
Crown Prince Zhenjin (1243-1285) of the Mongolian Chinese Yuan Dynasty Original painting, natural pigments on paper, private collection, late 17th century to mid 18th century, pair to a portrait of Kublai Khan, although the paintings appear to be by different hands. Numbered consecutively to the side so may have been leaves in an album. The historical prince sadly died after going in a massive bender following a quarrel with his father. The painting has no known medieval original. It shows the influence of the Jesuits who brought European styles and techniques to the early Qing courts. The three quarters pose, gaze everted appears to be unique in Chinese art. Beside the European influence, it bears a strong resemblance to Persian Safavid miniatures, showing beuatiful androgenous youths wearing fancy hats, gazing soulfully at works of art. This traiditon would have been well known to the Jesuts. It is hard to say if the subject is a young man or woman. Intriguingly the Emperors Yonzheng and Qianlong shared a private passion for costume portraits Emperor Yonzheng had himself painted in a variety of different dress. Emperor Qianlong commissioned portraits of his Uighur favourite, the Fragrant Concubine, Imperial Concubine Rong, in Chinese and Western dress and on her own and with him in armour. However, style and materials suggest an earlier date, Kangxi, so the Persian model is more likely.
Size: 2824px × 3126px
Location: London
Photo credit: © Candida Slater / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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