Artwork Page for Attacking the Camp at Gatan Ola: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Region, with Imperial Poems

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Attacking the Camp at Gatan Ola: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Region, with Imperial Poems

c. 1765–74; poem dated 1755

Giuseppe Castiglione 郎世寧

(Italian, 1688–1766)
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Culture
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
Medium
etching, mounted in album form, 16 leaves plus two additional leaves of inscriptions
Measurements
Overall: 51 x 87 cm (20 1/16 x 34 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1998.103.2
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This set of etchings was commissioned by Emperor Qianlong to record in pictorial terms the courage of his generals and soldiers in quelling the rebellions in the Western Regions. Qianlong added his own poem to each of the etchings, indicating his appreciation and pride in this demonstration of military might. "Western Regions" refers to the present-day Xingjiang province, often described in Western writing as "Central Asia."
A horizontally oriented etching on paper depicts a dense battle scene within a craggy mountain landscape. In the upper left, vertical columns of Chinese calligraphy appear above two stacked red ink stamps. Soldiers on horseback charge across the foreground and middle ground, wielding spears and bows. A military camp with pointed tents sits in the background before shaded, receding mountains. Intricate line work defines the expansive, chaotic movement across the plain.

Attacking the Camp at Gatan Ola: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Region, with Imperial Poems

c. 1765–74; poem dated 1755

Giuseppe Castiglione

(Italian, 1688–1766)
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)

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