Ten Fine Hounds (“Sudden-Flight Magpie”)

Ten Fine Hounds (“Sudden-Flight Magpie”)

• Image Number: K2A003740N000000000PAA
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Paintings
• Author: Giuseppe Castiglione;Lang Shining;郎世寧
• Form: 軸
• Exhibition dimension: 247.2×164
• Description:
  This painting depicts the “suddenly empty magpie” of ten steed dogs, presented by Prince Bartu (1674-1753) of Heshuokang. It lies under the banana and rose stone, glances sideways at the dried flowers, looks lazy and charming, and also skillfully reveals its sexual characteristics. Its skull is long and narrow, with a long beak and a thin waist. Its body shape is similar to that of today’s European Greyhound, but its ears have long hair. Northern China was originally similar to a hunting dog, commonly known as a thin dog, which may also be its source. Among the ten steed dogs painted by Lang, nine of them are all painted in the book “Ten Steed Dogs” (now collected in the Beijing Palace Museum) by Ai Qienlightenment, but the background is different. By repeatedly copying, Lang’s manuscripts are becoming more typical.