THE CONQUESTS OF THE EMPEROR QIANLONG A SET OF SIXTEEN ENGRAVINGS AFTER CASTIGLIONE ET AL, AND EIGHTEEN PANELS OF CALLIGRAPHY, 1769-74

each mounted on paper and with a yellow silk backing, accompanied by a set of eighteen manuscript poems originally composed and written by Qianlong, bearing the seal of the Imperial library and small red-ink seals indicating that the calligraphy is the Qianlong Emperor's own hand (34)

Acquired in Beijing in 1919 by Philippe de Vargas (1888-1956).
Thence by descent to the present family.

 

All plates have been mounted on paper back with yellow silk probably some time in the late 18th or 19th century. Chinese numbers written in black ink are written on the right hand side of each plate and an inscription in black ink is written onto the yellow silk on the left hand side of the reverser. They all show some wear and staining particularly to the central area where some plates are more heavily affected than others and show larger areas of loss which probably occurred before they were mounted. No. 1 'Reception de la soubmission de l'Ili' There is an Imperial seal imprint to the upper centre. There is a large area of loss to the lower left side (ca. 3 ½ by 5 ½ in.) as well as several smaller areas of loss across the engraving. There is some light brown staining to the left side and centre. No. 2 'On force le camp a Gaden-ola' The engraving shows Imperial seal imprint to the upper centre. A larger area of loss is evident to the central area below the seal imprint. There is another area of wear with associated loss and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down the centre to the lower rim and a smaller area of loss to the left side (ca. 1 by 1in.). There is some light brown staining to the left side and centre. No. 3 'le combat d'Oroi-jalatu' The engraving shows an Imperial seal imprint to the upper centre. There is another area of loss (ca. 4 by 1 1/2in.) just below the seal imprint and a smaller area of loss (ca. 2 by 1in.). Some overall light staining. No. 4 'La victoire de Khorgos' The engraving is in overall good condition. It has a small area of loss (1/2 by 1in.) to the centre as well as some light overall staining. No. 5 'Le combat de khurungui' There is an area of wear with associated losses and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down the centre to the lower rim. There is some dark brown staining to the centre left. No. 6 'Le chef d'Us (Turfan) se soumet avec sa ville' There is another area of wear with associated losses and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down the centre to the lower rim. There is some dark brown staining to the centre left. No. 7. 'La levee du siege de la riviere noire' (Khara-usu)' There are several smaller areas of loss scattered across the engraving but particularly across the central part. There is some overall light staining. No. 8. 'La grande victoire de Qurman' There is a dark spot/splash (ca. ½ by 1in) to the lower left and the lower right and small areas of loss to the upper centre. No. 9. 'Le combat de Tonguzluq" The engraving shows a large area of wear with associated areas of loss and tearing to the upper part (ca. 5 by 7 in.) extending from the upper part of the engraving down the centre to the lower rim. There is some light overall staining and a small brown stain to the lower left hand side. No. 10 ' Le combat de Qos-Qulaq" The engraving shows an Imperial seal imprint to the upper centre. There is a larger area of loss below the seal imprint (ca. 2 by 3 in.) and another area of wear with associated losses and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down to the centre. There is some light overall staining. No. 11. 'Le combat d'Arcul' There is an area of wear with associated losses and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down to the centre and to the lower rim. There is some light brown staining to the lower left hand corner. No. 12. 'Le combat de Yesil-Kol-Nor' The engraving is in overall good condition. It shows some folds along the upper rim where the print has been laid down. There is some light overall staining. No. 13. 'Le Khan de Badakhsan demande a se soumettre' There is a large/wide area of wear with associated losses and tearing extending from the upper part of the engraving down the centre to the lower rim and some smaller areas of loss to the left side (ca. ¾ by ¾ in.). Light overall staining. No. 14. 'On offer a l'Empereur' les prisonniers de la pacification des tribus musulmanes' The engraving is in good overall condition with the exception of light overall staining and a small area of loss to the left side (ca. ¾ by ¾ in.). No. 15. 'L'Empereur se rend dans la banlieue pour prendre des nouvelles des officiers et des soldats' The engraving is in overall good condition with the exception of some light overall wear and staining. No. 16. 'L'Empereur offer un banquet de victoire aux officiers et soldats que se sont distingues' The engraving is in overall good condition and shows only light overall staining and wear.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present set of engravings is rare as it forms part of a small group of this series reserved for the Qianlong Emperor. The Emperor commissioned the original set of sixteen engravings commemorating his military victories during the period from 1755 to 1760, in 1765 based on wall paintings of the battles, conquests, and ceremonies that marked his successful campaigns in the Western Region. Pingding Zhunga'er Huibu desheng tu (Images of the victories over the Zunghars and the Muslim tribes) is the first and most accomplished suite of 16 prints that celebrated notable Qing victories.

The drawings were prepared in China by four Jesuits: Giuseppe Castiglione, the director of the project, Jean-Denis Attiret, Ignatius Sichelbarth, and Jean Damascene. They were then sent to Paris, where the engravings were executed by eight artists under the direction of Charles-Nicolas Cochin of the Academie Royale at the Court of Louis XVI. Qianlong's commission was for an edition of one hundred copies only; however, to ensure the safe receipt of at least 100 copies in China, an edition of 200 copies was actually printed.