Portraits of members of a family
Portrait albums are rare, and this one, which seems to depict an entire family, is particularly unusual. Several of the men wear “rank badges”—textile squares or circles indicating their official position within the Qing-dynasty government. In each image, objects of refinement—books, fine furniture, scholar’s rocks—are carefully placed around the sitter to indicate his or her sophistication. This album is a touching document of one family’s attempt to record its ideal self-image.
Artwork Details
- Title: Portraits of members of a family
- Artist: Unidentified artist
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
- Date: mid-19th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Album of nineteen leaves; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions: 13 1/8 x 14 1/8 in. (33.3 x 35.9 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, 1952
- Object Number: 52.209.3a–s
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Unidentified artist
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