Illustration to a Poem Praising Snow by the Ch’ien-lung

Illustration to a Poem Praising Snow by the Ch’ien-lung

• Image Number: K2A002697N000000000PAA
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Paintings
• Author: 董誥
• Form: 軸
• Exhibition dimension: 93.5×46.7
• Description:
  In the twelfth month of the thirty ninth year of Qianlong’s reign (1774), Qianlong wrote a poem about snow and ordered him to make a snow scene picture. The picture depicts the scene of children and old people enjoying the Spring Festival. The high officials in the room are drinking around the table. The children are sweeping snow, setting off firecrackers, and playing in the courtyard president’s gallery. The ground is covered with white snow. The white plum and camellia flowers in the vestibule are in full bloom. The heavy snow in the first month symbolizes the harvest of the year. Beside the stone table, there are various items offered by the Qing Dynasty, implying that everything (persimmons) is good, and there are more than auspicious (oranges) celebrations (chimes). Dong does not deliberately paint images in detail, and his painting style is quite frank and simple.