Qing Dynasty Reverse Glass Work - Five Figures in Procession

Qing Dynasty Reverse Glass Work
Chinese | Circa 1800
 Five Figures in Procession
Oil on glass

This beautiful composition features five figures in procession. Dressed in ornate textiles, two men in red robes lead the way as two women, one holding a fan, trail behind. Another figure raises a banner. In Chinese reverse glass works, glass takes the place of canvas. Artists painstakingly applied painted layers to the glass in reverse, with the top layer painted first and the background last. These paintings are viewed in reflected light, revealing an impressive gloss, luminosity and depth of color unattainable with other painting techniques. Due to the complexity of the process and the high level of artistic skill required, highly detailed examples such as this are exceptionally rare.

The art of reverse glass painting came to China from Europe in the seventeenth century. Spurred by the Jesuit missionary project and fueled by general international trade, reverse glass works became highly desirable export items. These paintings were not only the prized possession of wealthy European families in the 18th and 19th centuries, but also of the Imperial Court. Today, historical reverse glass paintings reside at the Forbidden City emperor’s palace in Beijing. This exquisite painting, complemented by an ornate chinoiserie frame, is a stunning achievement in artistry and also an amazing relic of international luxury trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Glass: 21 3/8" high x 9" wide
Frame: 24 5/8" high x 12 1/4" wide