Anonymous: Portrait of the Daoguang Emperor of China (19th Century)

(Palace Museum, Beijing, China)

Something different this time. This painting is an official portrait of the Daoguang Emperor of China. He was 8th emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty and the 6th Qing emperor of China. An ineffective emperor, his reign from 1820 to 1850 was marked with internal rebellions and foreign wars. The most important ones were the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) and the First Opium War or Anglo-Chinese War (1839-1842). The emperor is seated on the Dragon Throne and wears an imperial yellow robe which is decorated with dragons. He holds in his hand a red or flaming pearl, a symbol of wealth, good luck, and prosperity. Painting from the 19th century.