Ding Guanpeng Emperor Qianlong’s Image Washing Axis

[Ding Guanpeng’s Painting Axis of Emperor Qianlong’s Washing Images]

The Painting Axis of Emperor Qianlong’s Washing Images, painted by Ding Guanpeng during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, is a paper version with colors, 132.3 centimeters vertically and 62.5 centimeters horizontally
The inscription on the lower left side of the painting reads: “In June of the 15th year of Qianlong’s reign (1750), I was respectfully painted by Ding Guanpeng.” The seal on the lower left is “I am Ding Guanpeng,” with the seal of Bai Wenfang, and the seal on the lower left is “Gonghua,” with the seal of Zhu Wenfang. “. On the upper right of the painting is the inscription of Emperor Qianlong’s Zhu Wen oval seal, “Treasure of Emperor Qianlong’s Imperial View.”. According to the collection, Emperor Qianlong was 40 years old
The Emperor Qianlong, dressed as a Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, was quietly watching the people cleaning their bodies for their elephants. The elephant happily turned its head and looked at Emperor Qianlong with a grateful expression. Although this picture is only signed by Ding Guanpeng, it should actually be a joint work of Chinese and Western painters. The portrait of the Emperor Qianlong, with its realistic features, should have been painted by Western painter Lang Shining, while the slightly exaggerated and deformed characters such as the Jade Maid, the Golden Boy, the Heavenly King, and the monks were written by Ding Guanpeng. This picture is skillful in setting up the scenery, with Qushui as the vein, connecting trees, stones, and grass. It also gathers numerous figures together, highlighting the main position of Emperor Qianlong. The figure’s clothing lines in the picture are thin, stiff, trembling, and full of movement. They not only enrich the visual effect of the picture, but also accurately outline various physical changes of the figure in different states. The whole picture is colorful and decorative, with the noble and elegant characteristics of palace painting
Emperor Qianlong was influenced by the living Buddha of the Buddhist master Zhangjia Sanshi and devoted himself to Buddhist studies for decades. In order to express his belief in Buddhism, he not only built Buddhist temples, translated Buddhist scriptures, made Buddhist implements, and wrote scriptures for self cultivation, but also compared himself to the incarnation of a Buddha in Buddhism, covered with a mysterious religious aura. He ordered court painters or Buddhist lamas to paint multiple portraits of him disguised as a Bodhisattva, and this picture is one of them