Lecture | China Seminar Series
Praying For Myriad Virtues: On Ding Guanpeng’s “The Buddha Preaching” in the Berlin Collection
- Date
- Wednesday 24 April 2019
- Time
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 130
Abstract
Ding Guanpeng's Buddha Preaching, created in 1770, is one of the biggest paintings ever made by a Qing dynasty court painter. But up until today, this work of art, which is part of the collection of Berlin's Ethnologisches Museum, has been largely ignored, even by Chinese art historians. In his book, the author examines the significance of the painting with fresh eyes. Taking into account the latest research, the author reassesses this piece in terms of its artistic merits and its importance in the history of art. He raises questions concerning its function and meaning and investigates the place it holds in the history of culture. In addition, this volume looks at the eventful history of the painting, describes how it found its way into the collection in Berlin and analyzes its iconography and technique.
About the speaker
Dr. Ching-Ling Wang previously worked as curator of pre-modern Chinese art at Museum für Asiatische Kunst, also being in charge of the Chinese collection of Ethnologisches Museum, both Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz. From 2012-2013 he was research fellow of “Connecting Art Histories in the Museum”, a joint research and fellowship program of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Marx-Planck-Institut and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. His research interests focus mainly on Chinese literati painting, Ming and Qing court art and questions concerning visual, material, cultural and artistic exchanges between China and Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.