The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of August 15, 2026

A pair of rectangular album covers features a single vertical column of white Chinese calligraphy on polished golden-brown wood (see "Inscriptions"). Thin, light-colored scratches streak across the surface, following the fine vertical grain. A central vertical seam runs down the middle where the two panels meet, forming a balanced horizontal composition. The script is positioned in the upper portion of the right-hand panel, contrasting with the warm-toned, natural wood.

Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems

c. 1765–74

Giuseppe Castiglione

(Italian, 1688–1766)

Jean Damascene Sallusti

(Italian, d. 1781)

Jean Denis Attiret

(French, 1702–1768)
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
Etchings, mounted in album form, 16 leaves plus two additional leaves of inscriptions
Each leaf: 51 x 87 cm (20 1/16 x 34 1/4 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1998.103
Location: Not on view

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."
  • ?–1998
    (Ursus Rare Books, NYC, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1998–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, “Cleveland Acquires Major New Sculpture, Rare Chinese Prints, Contemporary Prints, Drawings & Photographs,” October 30, 1998, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
    Ma, Yazhen. Images of War: The Cultural Construction of Qing Martial Prowess. Translated by Elizabeth Smithrosser. Singapore: National University of Singapore, 2025. Mentioned: pp. 231–232; Reproduced: p. a1, fig. 5.1 (1998.103.1 only)
  • {{cite web|title=Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems|url=false|author=Giuseppe Castiglione, Jean Damascene Sallusti, Jean Denis Attiret|year=c. 1765–74|access-date=15 August 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1998.103