CHINA Peking Pagoda In Summer Palace - 1884 Antique Print Engraving
Item History & Price
Bosphorus Turkey Views by Bartlett Fine Quality Antique Print
Print title: View Taken from the Summer Palace, Peking
Print Specifics:
Type of print: Wood Engraving - Original antique print Year of printing: not indicated in the print - actual 1884
Publisher: D. Appleton & Co., New York. Condition: 1 (1. Excellent - 2. Very good - 3. Good - 4. Fair...). Light age toning of paper.
Dimensions: 7 x 10.5 inches (17, 5 x 26 cm), including blank margins (borders) around the image. Paper weight: 3 (1. Thick - 2. Heavier - 3. Medium heavy - 4. Slightly heavier - 5. Thin) Reverse side: Blank Notes: 1.Green color 'border' around the print in the photo is a contrastingbackground on which the print was photographed. 2. The print detail is sharper than the photo of the print.
Narrative:
Inthe heart of the Manchu city is the so-called " Yellow " quarter, alsowithin an enclosure with four gates facing the cardinal points. This is the sacred city, in whichstandsthe imperial palace, the onlybuilding in China faced with yellow porcelain". Most of the space, fromwhich the public are rigorously excluded, is occupied with anartificial lake, groves, and shady avenues. Of almost equal extent arethe two famous Temples of Heaven and Agriculture, both situated in themidst of extensive grounds at the southern extremity of the Chinesequarter. The Temple of Heaven, with its double roof, stands on aterrace approached by marble steps, and is decorated with enamelledporcelains and woodwork, whose bright red, blue, and golden tintscontrast agreeably with the surrounding green vegetation. The Temple ofAgriculture, of smaller size, but more elevated, and surmounted bythree superimposed roofs, is encircled by a forest of carved pilastersornamenting the balconies and steps. Close by is the field wherethe Emperor and imperial princes assembled every sprung to guide theivory and gold plough while invoking the blessings of heaven and earthon the fruits of the land.
But since the triumphant entry of the allies into thecapital this ceremony has fallen into abeyance.The Temples of theEarth, of the Sun and Moon, and the other sanctuaries, where arecelebrated the solemn rites of the national religion, lie beyond thewalls of the Manchu town. But just inside the ramparts, and nearthe Temple of the Sciences, stands the oldobservatoryof the Jesuitmissionaries, with its curious bronze astronomic instruments of nativeworkmanship, which form the finest known collection of Chinese bronzes.The Russian observatory at the north-east corner of the enclosurecontains a valuable Chinese library, and in the Lazarist mission is arich natural history museum formed by Armand David. But themagnificent imperial library has been to alarge extent dispersed. Under the Ming dynasty the G-overnment maintained schools in which weretaught Siamese, Burmese, Persian, Turki, Tibetan, and two dialects ofthe south-western wild tribes. But since the " Opium War " the ministryhave discovered that there are other languages of more importance thanthose of Indo-China and Central Asia. Hence in the Governmentschool attached to the Foreign Office young mandarins are now taughtEnglish, French, German, Russian, and Manchu.
Martin2001 Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy!
Any print purchased from me may be returned for any (or no) reason for a full refund including all postage. Internet seller since 1998. Five-star service.
Print title: View Taken from the Summer Palace, Peking
Print Specifics:
Type of print: Wood Engraving - Original antique print Year of printing: not indicated in the print - actual 1884
Publisher: D. Appleton & Co., New York. Condition: 1 (1. Excellent - 2. Very good - 3. Good - 4. Fair...). Light age toning of paper.
Dimensions: 7 x 10.5 inches (17, 5 x 26 cm), including blank margins (borders) around the image. Paper weight: 3 (1. Thick - 2. Heavier - 3. Medium heavy - 4. Slightly heavier - 5. Thin) Reverse side: Blank Notes: 1.Green color 'border' around the print in the photo is a contrastingbackground on which the print was photographed. 2. The print detail is sharper than the photo of the print.
Narrative:
Inthe heart of the Manchu city is the so-called " Yellow " quarter, alsowithin an enclosure with four gates facing the cardinal points. This is the sacred city, in whichstandsthe imperial palace, the onlybuilding in China faced with yellow porcelain". Most of the space, fromwhich the public are rigorously excluded, is occupied with anartificial lake, groves, and shady avenues. Of almost equal extent arethe two famous Temples of Heaven and Agriculture, both situated in themidst of extensive grounds at the southern extremity of the Chinesequarter. The Temple of Heaven, with its double roof, stands on aterrace approached by marble steps, and is decorated with enamelledporcelains and woodwork, whose bright red, blue, and golden tintscontrast agreeably with the surrounding green vegetation. The Temple ofAgriculture, of smaller size, but more elevated, and surmounted bythree superimposed roofs, is encircled by a forest of carved pilastersornamenting the balconies and steps. Close by is the field wherethe Emperor and imperial princes assembled every sprung to guide theivory and gold plough while invoking the blessings of heaven and earthon the fruits of the land.
But since the triumphant entry of the allies into thecapital this ceremony has fallen into abeyance.The Temples of theEarth, of the Sun and Moon, and the other sanctuaries, where arecelebrated the solemn rites of the national religion, lie beyond thewalls of the Manchu town. But just inside the ramparts, and nearthe Temple of the Sciences, stands the oldobservatoryof the Jesuitmissionaries, with its curious bronze astronomic instruments of nativeworkmanship, which form the finest known collection of Chinese bronzes.The Russian observatory at the north-east corner of the enclosurecontains a valuable Chinese library, and in the Lazarist mission is arich natural history museum formed by Armand David. But themagnificent imperial library has been to alarge extent dispersed. Under the Ming dynasty the G-overnment maintained schools in which weretaught Siamese, Burmese, Persian, Turki, Tibetan, and two dialects ofthe south-western wild tribes. But since the " Opium War " the ministryhave discovered that there are other languages of more importance thanthose of Indo-China and Central Asia. Hence in the Governmentschool attached to the Foreign Office young mandarins are now taughtEnglish, French, German, Russian, and Manchu.
Martin2001 Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy!
Any print purchased from me may be returned for any (or no) reason for a full refund including all postage. Internet seller since 1998. Five-star service.
