Current Location: In storage
Titles
A Lady Dressing Her Hair with Flowers
Maker(s)
Sunqua
(Attributed)
Entities
Categories
Description
A watercolour drawing from the album 4165. This image depicts two Qing ladies in a domestic setting. A seated lady wearing an elaborate blue robe with gold embroidery and decorative trim leans against a wooden table. Her outfit includes a richly patterned skirt with floral motifs in red and blue. She is also wearing gold necklace, gold bracelet, and jade earrings. She raises her right hand to add flowers into her hair. A young maid is standing next to her, wearing an orange and blue outfit with gold trim. She holds a small, decorated basket containing flowers for the lady to dress up. On the wooden table is a bronze or ceramic vase holding white Mongolia blossom. The furniture includes an intricately carved green chair and a dark wooden table. The painting is executed in the style typical of Chinese export art from around the late 18th or early 19th century, with careful attention to details in the clothing, furniture, and accessories. The style combines Chinese painting techniques with elements designed to appeal to Western tastes, particularly in the detailed rendering of the textile patterns, furniture construction, and facial features. Previously described as " Woman Putting Flowers in her Hair ".
Measurements and weight
Height: 365 mm
Width: 256 mm
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Given
(1909)
by
Bothamley, Rev. H.
Note
Export album made for the Western market
School or Style
Chinese
Chinese export art
Chinese export watercolour
Materials used in production
Watercolour
Bodycolour
White highlights
Ink
Components of the work
Support
composed of
pith paper
Techniques used in production
Drawing
: Watercolour, bodycolour, and ink with heightening in white, gold and silver on pith paper, laid down with with strips of blue silk-covered paper
Identification numbers
Accession number: 4165.7
Primary reference Number: 185621
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Monday 10 October 2011
Updated: Thursday 28 August 2025
Last processed: Thursday 28 August 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
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