This course examines the art and building projects of the emperors
of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with special emphasis on the reigns
of Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong  (1662-1795).

The Qing was a dynasty of Manchu conquerors, deeply resented by
patriotic Chinese; the imperial family made use of  painting,
architecture, textiles, and other arts to assert its legitimacy,
promulgate ideologies, construct and project images of the state,
and document its ownership of Chinese culture. Of particular
interest are the Qing rulers’ “occidentalism” and their
encouragement of European painting techniques, introduced to them by
Jesuit missionaries; and their monumental ambitions—and
accomplishments—as  collectors, which  have done much to shape the
canons of Chinese art received and studied today.

The course is a combined reading course and research seminar.
Throughout the semester, we’ll read and discuss English-language
scholarship on various aspects of Manchu court culture and art:
imperial portraits, Italian artists at court, paintings of court
beauties, the emperors’ European-style villas, decorative arts and
the state workshops, the imperial art collection, and much else.
Students will also prepare research projects on  topics of interest
to them, to be presented in class  towards  the end of  the
semester  and also handed in.  Previous course work in Chinese art
is not a necessity.