Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao
占音保画像
A life-size formal portrait of Zhanyinbao, an imperial bodyguard rewarded for distinguished service in the Qianlong emperor's western campaigns. He stands in full-length court armor, sabre drawn, with a Manchu-language inscription enumerating his exploits.
Object Facts
- Period
- Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign (1735–1796)
- Date
- dated 1760
- Artist
- Unidentified Qing court artist
- Medium
- Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions
- 188.6 × 95.1 cm (image)
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 1986.206
Purchase, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1986
Why it matters
One of fifty heroic portraits Qianlong commissioned for the Ziguang Pavilion (紫光阁) in 1760. The series fused European chiaroscuro brought to court by the Jesuit painter Castiglione with traditional Chinese full-length figure conventions — a pivotal experiment in 18th-century cross-cultural portraiture.
How it travelled
The Ziguang Pavilion portraits were dispersed during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, when the eight-nation alliance occupied Beijing. Most surviving examples are now in Berlin, Paris, and a handful in North America. The Met acquired this one in 1986.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao?+
Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 1986.206. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/49249.
When was Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao created?+
Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao dates to dated 1760, during the Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign (1735–1796).
Who made Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao?+
Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao is attributed to Unidentified Qing court artist. The work is a hanging scroll executed in hanging scroll; ink and color on silk.
How did Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao end up at the The Met?+
The Ziguang Pavilion portraits were dispersed during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, when the eight-nation alliance occupied Beijing. Most surviving examples are now in Berlin, Paris, and a handful in North America. The Met acquired this one in 1986.
Can I reuse the photograph of Portrait of the Imperial Guard Zhanyinbao?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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