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Qing Official with a Ruyi: 4168.1

An image of Drawing
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Alternative views

An image of Drawing
An image of Drawing
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Qing Official with a Ruyi

Maker(s)

Yunqua

Entities

Categories

Description

A watercolour drawing from the album 4168. This image depicts a high-ranking Qing official seated in an ornate chair and holding a ruyi. The figure wears a court robe in dark blue and black with elaborate dragon and cloud motifs, indicating his status. He wears a black cap with red trim and a peacock feather. He has a well-groomed mustache and goatee. The official sits in an intricately carved wooden chair with curved armrests. On the table beside him are a blue vase containing pink roses and an incense burner. The table has a carved design along its edge that is characteristic of Chinese furniture. The painting is executed in the style typical of Chinese export art from around the late 18th or early 19th century, with careful attention to details in the clothing, furniture, and decorative objects. The style combines Chinese painting techniques with elements designed to appeal to Western tastes, particularly in the detailed rendering of the figure's sumptuous costume and the well-appointed interior setting. Previously described as "Manchu official".

Measurements and weight

Height: 336 mm
Width: 253 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1909) by Bothamley, Rev. H.

School or Style

Chinese
Chinese export art
Chinese export watercolour

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour
White highlights
Ink

Components of the work

Support composed of pith paper

Techniques used in production

Drawing : Watercolour, bodycolour, and ink with heightening in white and silver, on pith paper, laid down with with strips of blue silk-covered paper

Identification numbers

Accession number: 4168.1
Primary reference Number: 185639

Audit data

Created: Monday 10 October 2011 Updated: Thursday 28 August 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Qing Official with a Ruyi" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/185639 Accessed: 2025-12-08 16:29:49

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/185639 |title=Qing Official with a Ruyi |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-08 16:29:49|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Qing Official with a Ruyi</figcaption>
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