The Imperial Commission: A Portrait for the World Stage The winter of 1903 found an unusual resident within the frost-laden […]
The Heartbeat of a Nation: Gift-Giving in the Forbidden City The Forbidden City, known as the “Great Within,” stood as […]
The Twilight of Imperial China: Setting the Scene The late 19th century witnessed the Qing Dynasty in its declining years, […]
A Sanctuary from National Trauma The Summer Palace stood as Empress Dowager Cixi’s cherished retreat, a haven from the painful […]
A Monarch’s Solitary Burden The Forbidden City’s marble pathways echoed with uncharacteristic silence as Empress Dowager Cixi walked alone through […]
The Power Behind the Dragon Throne Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908), the de facto ruler of China’s Qing Dynasty for nearly […]
The Summer Palace as a Stage for Cross-Cultural Exchange In the twilight years of the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace […]
The Imperial Portrait Project Begins Following the conclusion of court garden parties, Empress Dowager Cixi found herself with more leisure […]
A Grand Gesture of Cross-Cultural Diplomacy In the autumn following the Mid-Autumn Festival, Empress Dowager Cixi hosted an elaborate garden […]
The Historical Roots of China’s Moon Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival, known in China as the Moon Festival, has been celebrated […]
The Imperial Vision Behind the Summer Palace Nestled at the foot of the Western Hills beside Kunming Lake, 16 miles […]
The Twilight Reign of a Young Emperor In the dim candlelight of Beijing’s Forbidden City, an extraordinary daily ritual unfolded […]
The Rise of the Two Empresses The mid-19th century marked a turbulent period in Qing Dynasty history. Following the death […]
The Imperial Eunuch System in Historical Context The Qing Dynasty’s eunuch system represented one of history’s most elaborate and institutionalized […]
A Conservative Ruler Embracing Modernity The Empress Dowager Cixi, one of the most formidable figures in late Qing China, was […]
The Unforeseen Challenges of an Imperial Portrait What began as a straightforward commission—an official portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi—soon revealed […]
A Western Artist in the Forbidden City The year was 1903 when an American portrait painter named Katharine Carl received […]
The Imperial Rituals and the Tranquil Interlude Following the elaborate celebrations of the Empress Dowager Cixi’s birthday—known as the Wanshou […]
The Imperial Birthday Celebration: A Window into Qing Dynasty Rituals The scene unfolds at dawn in the Forbidden City, where […]
The Boy Emperor and the Shadow of Regency When Emperor Guangxu assumed personal rule at eighteen in 1887, it marked […]
The Curious Case of an Early Imperial Birthday In the rarefied world of China’s imperial court, even something as personal […]
A Portrait Artist’s Unique Perspective The imperial court of late Qing China comes alive through the eyes of an unnamed […]
