Page 149 - Nov. 27, 2019 Christie's Important Works of Art HK

fig. 4B Lot 3041 detail fig. 4C The Emperor Xianfeng in informal
எ # ទᐽ৅⡿㛑 attire (detail), collection of the Palace
Museum, Beijing
எ $ Ƕ়㎒⎑Ⴝ؝ㅛ۬Ƿ卻⡿㛑卼
࢈՗ᘢ༈ࢷ⁒㩴⻦৅

fig. 4A Imperial red-knotted hat, collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing fig. 4 Figure wearing Imperial five-clawed dragon robe
எ " 㬪ⰰ⤋㞜Ⅴ⇣⟬ⅸຽ໑◙೰⡠჏㯔卿࢈՗ᘢ༈ࢷ⁒㩴⻦৅ and hat (lot 3041 detail)
எ ទᐽ৅ठӴᙹ⊕ຽ⢶ⰰ・ㄜӳ⎏Ն‣䂆⡠ࣿ჏㯔

The figure illustrated in the lower right corner (fig. 4) maybe a depiction of ᗌؼ᫉⊺⋁ἃӬℳݩ㏟ݽᏒ⥾ǯ⩧⊺㬷ठӴ㈍Ꮢ
Prince Yizhu, who later ascended the throne as the Xianfeng Emperor. The ⥾ԠనᏗ⊕ຽᥑᝳज⬒ᛓ㙣ݏ๦ຽന娅卻
damask design of a five-clawed dragon on his brown robe is clearly depicted, 卿࣊ᇌ׹⎏়㎒Ⴝ卼卻ॲ 卼ǯԠᏒսൈ᫉
while a red knot (representing the highest rank) appears to provide the finial on
ᓠ᳭卿࣊୬ݯ⢶ⰰ・ㄜӳᝳՆ‣䂆⡠㰆⩧ᚿ㇦ǯ
his cap (fig. 4A). This suggests that the figure represents a young noble prince
࠼Ԡ჏㯔ӳ⎏⡚⢬⢙㮱卻᫉⋁ἃᝬ㵶⡯ߣ卼卻ॲ
from the imperial family. Prince Yizhu would have been about 13 or 14 years old
"卼卿㑷㇦ݯ⋁ἃ᳖ༀԋ㞒㇝⎏ჺ㖔Ꮀ৘ǯⲋ
at the time when this painting was executed. A comparison between this figure,
᫉⊺⥾ᙻ ⯍ ჺ㧿卿ߺ়㎒ᛞჺ⡙ࢦ୨Ǯ
and those of known images of the Xianfeng Emperor bear startling similarities,
Ն᫐ǯݻཆݯ㬷༏⯝औӬ᳖༈⯠⻦ԠǶ়㎒Ⴝ؝
including the elongated face, bone structure, large flat ears, large nose and full lips
ㅛ۬Ƿ⏟Մᬘ㖅卿ݯ⏫໩Ԡ㧿卿Ն໶㖥ᅃԠ᳖⍈
(figs. 4B&C).
㵓 Ǯ⪆࣡㎒䁉⎏⁞ᇨࣿ৶㈍⊶ᔆ⎏▵㮫卿༰ᛓ
It is possible that the present painting was a special commission by Prince Yizhu ᥑ⏌▵ַ卻ॲ #ۣ$卼ǯ
for display in his own residence. If this is the case then it explains why the painting
lacks imperial seals of the Daoguang Emperor and any-or as yet to be discovered- ᫉Ꮅᜡ▔⊺Ⴧईউന娅卿ԆஙᎰ⊺ᇌᅤ⧡ᄙݤǯ
written court records for its commission. ⲋ὞ൈ᫉卿࣊ज㈛㞐׍ս⊺ӳԆὍ㙣ݏ㯪㐫卿ᝤ
Ӷ㇦ᝳ㉃㢙ⶬᙻ᳖ᨯǯ

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