Empress Xiao Shen Becomes a Lotus Watching Axis

[Axis of Empress Xiao Shen Cheng Watching Lotus]

Axis of Empress Xiao Shen Cheng Watching Lotus, Qing Daoguang, paper version, colored, 157.5 cm vertically and 89.5 cm horizontally
On the upper left of the screen, there are seals of “Daoguang Appreciation” and “Treasure of Yangzheng Book House”
Emperor Xuanzong of the Qing Dynasty (Daoguang), the Empress Xiaoshencheng (? – 1833), had the surname Tong Jia, and was the daughter of Shu Minga, the third-class Duke of Chengen. When Emperor Xuanzong became the prince, he passed away as a descendant of the Niuhulu clan in the Jin dynasty. In the 13th year of Jiaqing (1808), Emperor Renzong granted a register as the successor to Emperor Di and Fu Jin. Emperor Xuanzong succeeded to the throne and became queen in November of the second year of Daoguang’s reign (1822). He died in the thirteenth year of Daoguang’s reign (1833)
The picture depicts a summer courtyard scene, with a gentle breeze supporting the willows on the shore, red and white lotus flowers blooming in full bloom in the pool, and mandarin ducks swimming in the water. Dressed in casual clothes, the empress holds a folding fan and wears seasonal flowers as a headdress. Her eyebrows are slim and her lower lip is a little bright red, making her a typical makeup for women in the Qing Dynasty. The lotus flowers in the painting are both realistic and symbolic, intended to praise the noble character of the characters in the painting. Coupled mandarin ducks are the beautiful wishes of women in the palace for their emotional life