The Three Emperors: Redefining Chinese Art in the Golden Age

3 units

Ruling imperial China during its last Golden Age, the Qing emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong patronized the arts during an unprecedented period of prosperity and international exchange. Many of the works they commissioned are now icons of Chinese culture, but in their time these three Manchus redefined Chinese art with ideas and styles from Baroque Europe, Tibet, Mongolia, and even Islamic Central Asia. This seminar focuses on the ethnically and culturally diverse art, architecture, and material culture patronized by these three emperors to examine how they and their multi-ethnic empire changed the definition of Chinese art during the long eighteenth century. Prerequisites: Intro to Asian Art (L01 111); or one 300-level course in Asian Art History, History or Literature; or permission of instructor.