LIKE A MASTERPIECE OF JADE
Qing dynasty (1796)
Ink and colour on silk
172 by 103 cm

The good wishes expressed in the dedication warrant the idea that this portrait was painted from life, as a homage from Zhang Konghui to his uncle, in the observance of the Confucian practice of filial piety. The painter, who followed the canons of the Jiangnan school, devotes the same degree of care to both the depiction of the face, strongly characterised, and of the sumptuous formal court dress (chaofu) in an effort to express the official’s status, the fifth civil rank, as well as his personality.
The humble and serene expression of the face, particularly the lips hinting a smile, refer to the profound wisdom of this official, capable of remaining silent when someone is mistaken, or to use his mouth only to pronounce a verdict of truth. His benevolent gaze confirms his openness to anyone seeking his advice, and thus proves his altruistic nature. Moreover, the reference to jade in the dedication is not casual, it is a clear allusion to the five virtues of this stone, metaphorically compared to those of the official. The chaopao featuring the dynamic front-facing dragons and the blue damask bufu decorated with motifs known as ‘the scholar’s treasures’, on which the superb mandarin badge stands out, with a profusion of gold applied on the back of the silk support, make the dignitary’s costume simply superlative.