Lot 224
  • 224

TWO COPPER-PLATE ENGRAVINGS OF EMPEROR QIANLONG'S CONQUEST DATED 1769

Estimate
20,000 - 40,000 USD
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Description

  • copper
the first depicting the surrender of the Ili, from a drawing by Jonatius Sichelbarth, engraved by B.L. Prevost under the direction of C.N. Cochin, the lower edge inscribed P. Jonatius Sichelbarth Soc. JESU  delin. 1765, C.N. Cochin direx. and B.L. Prevost Sculpsit 1769; the second depicting the battle of Oroi-Jalatu where the enemy camp is destroyed, from a drawing by Joseph Castilhoni, engraved by J. Ph. Le Bas under the direction of C.N. Cochin, the lower edge inscribed Joseph Castilhoni Soc. JESU  delin 1765, C.N. Cochin direx. and J. Ph. Le Bas Scul 1769; each lightly tinted, framed and glazed; together with a catalogue in French from the Musee Guimet titled Gravures des Conquetes de l'Empereur de Chine K'ien-Long au Musee Guimet, Paris, 1969 (3)

Provenance

Paul Seidenberg, New York.

Condition

The surrender of the Ili with a restored horizontal tear approximately 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) and 6 in. (15.2 cm) long to each side and some yellow discoloration to the lower section of the white border. Both with minor fading of pigments.
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.

Catalogue Note

After seeing battle prints by the German painter Rugendas (1666-1742), the Qianlong emperor was inspired to celebrate his own victories by having them commemorated in prints. He commissioned the original set of sixteen engravings of his conquests on 13th July 1765 for the central hall of the Palace of Beijing. The drawings were prepared in China by Jesuit missionaries and sent to France, where the engravings were executed in Paris by eight artists under the direction of Charles-Nicolas Cochin of the Académie Royale at the Court of Louis XVI. The individual engravers included Le Bas, Aliamet, Prevost, Saint-Aubin, Masquelier, Choffard and De Launay. 

The series is a remarkable fusion between a blend of European and Chinese aesthetics and European technique. 

A set of twelve engravings that Qianlong commissioned to commemorate later victories were sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 27th April 2003, lot 35.