Painters of the Ch'ing Court
Ch'ing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Framed 18"x24"                                                                           ( Original is Color and Ink on Silk; size: 69"x37" , Wallscroll )

   This set of twelve paintings depicts, with a spicing of imagination, activities which typify each month of the lunar calendar. It bears no signatures but is plainly a work of the Ch'ing dynasty academy. Judging from the style it is a collaborative effort by painter T'ang Tai, Ting Kuan-p'eng and other painters of the Ch'ien-lung court (1736-1796).

The Yuan-hsiao (lantern) festival falls on the 15th of the month. Here we see the interior of a house aglow with lights. Outside people stroll about, light lanterns, enjoy the reflected image of the moon, drink, or take in the sights of the city. One large exotic lantern is suspended from tall scaffolding in the rear courtyard ; crowds of children play beneath it beating drums and performing mock theatricals. Beyond, more lanterns recede into the distance.