The Art of the Qianlong Period

Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) reigned China 1736-1795 at a time of prosperity and territorial expansion. His long reign was the high point of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Qing emperors ruled from the Forbidden City in Beijing. Qianlong identified himself as the ruler of five peoples: Manchus, Chinese, Monglos, Tibetans and Uighurs.

Qianlong was a brilliant strategist, an exceptional scholar, a poet and connoisseur. He amassed many works of art as a tribute to the magnificent, unique heritage successive generations of Chinese had created. Under him new artistic styles were created through interactions with the cultures of Mongolia, Tibet and the West.

This lecture examines aspects of the Imperial collections under Qianlong’s reign, while acknowledging the dispersal and loss of many pieces that occurred with the 1860 sacking by French and British troops of the Yuanming Yuam Summer Palace.