Plate 4: Philosopher, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Fourth plate of 'A New Book of Chinese Designs', consisting of a title page, index, and 120 plates, etched and published in 1754 by the British caricaturist, printseller and ornamental engraver Matthew Darly, in collaboration with George Edwards. The book consists of a variety of ornamental and costume designs of Chinese inspiration, some of them copies of the original works (including the title).
This plate represents a Chinese philosopher, wearing a loose jacket with long, wide sleeves, with a pattern of stars and flaming knots, and a long robe, with semi-abstract clovers and stylized scrolling leaves, and a sort of stomacher with a pattern of scrolling motifs. He wears a heart-shaped headdress on his hold hair and has a beard. Flat shoes peek at the bottom of his tunic. His fingernails are long, and he holds a branch with lilies (?) in the left hand.
