Approximate Measurements
Artwork Panel: 62.5cm x 130cm ≈ 24½" x 51¼"
Silk/Brocade: 72.7cm x 186cm ≈ 28½" x 73¼"
Width at Wooden Knobs: 81.7cm ≈ 32¼"
Close up view of the artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll
The Chinese title is "Guifei Enjoys the Flowers".
In Chinese culture, there are four famous beautiful woman of China.
They are thought to be the most beautiful and significant woman of China's ancient history.
Although the stories about these woman are based on fact, they are also steeped in legend.
These woman have remained famous through history because of the drastic effects on the emperors, kings, and kingdoms with whom they were bound.
Some of the beauties brought kingdoms and dynasties to their knees.
Most of the beauties had lives that ended in tragedy or mystery.
The legend and history of these woman has inspired Chinese artists for generations to create paintings that depict these four famous beauties of ancient China.
This woman was born as "Yang Yu-Huan" she later became known in history as "Yang Gui-Fei".
To break down the meaning:
Yang = Her family name
Gui = Precious
Fei = Concubine
Therefore you can call her, "Precious Concubine" in English.
...because "concubine" is was not such a bad term in ancient China, you might call her, "The Precious Beauty".
Yang Gui-Fei was selected by the emperor (during the Tang Dynasty) to become one of his concubines. She soon became the only woman that the emperor wanted.
Because he was so taken with her beauty he neglected his duties as emperor, and spent all of his time with her.
Soon stability of the country crumbled around him. This beautiful woman and her alluring and charming ways had left an empire in ruins.
The emperor lost everything because of his captivation by this beautiful and addictive woman.
Later, the people around the kingdom, knowing the effect she had on the emperor, killed her.
Knowing this fact, it almost makes you want to rename her, "The Deadly Beauty of China".
There lessons to be learned from both sides of this story.
This was painted and is signed by (Liu Qian) of Guilin China.
Like many artists in China, she likes to paint images of the Ancient Four Beauties of China.
This painting is titled "Guifei Enjoys the Flowers". Along with that title, the rest of the characters include the year painted (2006) and the artist's signature.
This is painted on xuan paper (rice paper), I later took it back to our workshop in Beijing and had it mounted by hand to a silk wall scroll.