Western imperial painters made many portraits of emperors and their concubines. Their paintings differed from traditional Chinese figure painting, with greater attention to anatomic detail and use of light. Traditional Chinese painting shows subjects in only one light. The pictures here show how the Qing Dynasty concubines appeared in the eyes of the western imperial painters.

 Oil and Water Colors' Mix

Tongyin Maids of Honor

Traditional Chinese painters were much influenced by the western imperial artists and some learned the techniques of western oil painting from them. The unknown painter of Tongyin Maids of Honor was one of the first Chinese artists to work in the western style, developing a tradition that flourished until the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the eighteenth century.

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