Influence of Lady Portraits in Ming and Qing Dynasties on Enamel

Paintings of Ladies during the Transitional Period on Ceramics

WANG Fangli

(Jingdezhen University, Jingdezhen 333000, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract:  The overglaze enamel paintings of ladies during the transitional period were mainly exposed to the influence of the lady portraits Mof Ming and Qing Dynasties. The ladies were usually portrayed as slim and delicate and set in the intricately depicted scenes that reflect their subtle feelings. Different from the bright gaudy palette of Ming Dynasty, their colors are more graceful and harmonious. Some enamel paintings even adopted the meticulous brush technique of the Ming-Qing Dynasty lady portraits. The profound influence of the lady portraits on the enamel paintings of ladies during the transitional period should be ascribed to the prevailing taste of the society then. The aesthetics of the people decided the expressive features of the art. Lady portraits that satisfied the aesthetic needs of the market set the best examples for ceramic decorations during the time to follow in order to benefit most from the market.

Key words:  lady portraits of Ming and Qing Dynasties; ceramics of the transitional period; overglaze enamel painting