TWO COPPERPLATE ENGRAVINGS ILLUSTRATING THE BATTLES OF THE QIANLONG EMPEROR

Description:

With Qianlong Poems Dated 1793 and 1797
Je 49,8 x 87 cm
Mounted as Album Double Leaves. 1) Attack on Zhamu. Artists: Jia Shiqiu, Li Ming and Feng Ning, China 1793-1799. First leaf of a series of 8 engravings iIllustrating a punishment expedition of Qianlong’s troops against the Gurkhas, who had invaded Tibet from Nepal (1790-1792). The leaf shows the Chinese troops attacking a tower of the enemy with gun fire. From the right the Chinese general arrives with his officers. The poem of the Qianlong Emperor is dated the guichou year (1793). 2) Attack on the enemy strongholds Dongxi and Dangzhang. Anonymous. China 1798-1803. Second leaf of a series of 4 engravings illustrating the crushing of an uprising of the Miao tribes (1795-1797). The leaf shows the attacking of a city and villages of the Miao by Chinese troops. The poem of the Qianlong Emperor is dated the dingsi year (1797), with the seal “Taishang Huangdi”, indicating that at that time he had already abdicated from throne. He lived on and kept political power until 1799.
Old South German private collection, assembled prior 2007 - Traces of age, minor water stains, wear