Original title
Vüe Perspective du pont et du Port de la Ville de Pekin, Ville de la Chine
Description
XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published in Paris circa 1770, depicting a view of the Bridge and the Port of Beijing (China).
During the 18th Century, several renowned establishments in Paris, London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy) were specialized in the creation of these optical views. They could be viewed alone or through a zograscope, a wooden foot surmounted by a lens which enlarged the image and accentuated the perspective effect. They could also be placed in optical boxes, the spectator then looked inside the box through the lens. This distraction was greatly appreciated in the 18th Century in the salons of the bourgeoisie and the nobility as in the countryside thanks to the hawkers.
These etchings are nowadays exhibited in museums around the world and extremely appreciated by collectors and decorators for their historical interest and their high decorative value.
Museums & Archives
The Bibliothèque nationale de France owns a copy of this optical view in its collections. For more details on this print please consult the site : Vüe perspective du pont et du port de la ville de pekin, ville de la chine
Condition report
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This strong water etching is listed in these categories :
In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang declared himself the first emperor of the Ming dynasty, then took power of the city. The last emperor Yuan is sent back to Shangdu and the palaces of Dadu are destroyed. The city is then renamed Beiping and the prefecture of Shuntian is established around the city. The capital was at that time Nanjing, located a thousand kilometers south of Beijing.
However, in 1403, the emperor Yongle renamed the city Beijing and made it the seat of government, which put it symbolically on a level of equality with Nanjing. In 1421, he had his administration transferred there. Yongle, undertakes major works in Beijing: he notably builds the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Once the Forbidden City is established, the emperor takes up residence in Beijing. From 1421, Beijing, also known as Jingshi, became the official capital of the Ming dynasty and Nanjing was relegated to the status of secondary capital. This system of two capitals continued during the Ming dynasty. Thus, 13 of the 16 Ming emperors are buried in majestic tombs near Beijing.
During the fifteenth century, Beijing essentially took its present form and the walls of the city under the Ming period served as protective walls for the city. until modern times, during which these walls were destroyed to build the second ring road. It is estimated that Beijing was the largest city in the world between 1425 and 1650 and between 1710 and 1825. Other notable constructions date from the Ming period, including the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420. Tian 'anmen, current symbol of the People's Republic of China which uses it on its emblem, was built for the first time in 1420, before being rebuilt throughout history. The Jesuits built the first Roman-style Catholic church in 1652, near the Xuanwu gate, where the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci lived. We also owe them the old observatory. The modern cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Beijing was built in 1904 on the original cathedral.
The end of the Ming occurs in 1644 when, for 40 days, the peasant army of Li Zicheng seized Beijing and overthrew the Ming government. When the powerful Manchu army arrives at the gates of the city, Li and his supporters abandon the city so that the Manchu forces, under the leadership of Prince Dorgon, capture Beijing without a fight.
The Galerie Napoléon is pleased to propose to you this strong water etching printed 254 years ago (around 1770).
As for all the antique prints in our catalogue, this optical view Vüe Perspective du pont et du Port de la Ville de Pekin, Ville de la Chine datant de 1770 is dispatched worldwide within 24H in a Secured packaging, accompanied by its certificate of authenticity guaranteeing the name of the artists (draughtsman, engraver, editor), the impression process used (Strong water) and its date (1770).
In order to guarantee a perfect conservation in time, this strong water etching is dispatched, ready to be framed, under museum quality color passepartout (manufactured without acid in the pulp for a neutral pH) on a cream mountboard made from carton bois (also acid free & neutral pH), in a luxurious portfolio.
At the apogee of the mode for optical views, between 1750 and 1790, four European cities specialized in their edition: Paris (France), London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy).
Optical views are prized in very different social circles : pleasant recreation in aristocratic salons, the views are admired in beautiful and richly decorated optical boxes which are real works of art. The show was transformed into a real scientific experiment. But the optical views also entertained the people who were in a hurry when a hawker set up a box on a market and began to narrate the extraordinary events that had taken place in a more or less distant and inaccessible country.
There are three categories in the production of optical views.
With more than 20 years experience and a catalogue of more than 40.000 antique prints, drawings and historical documents dating from the 14th to the 19th century, the Galerie Napoléon, parisian antique dealer's gallery, is one of the world references in the field of antique prints,etchings and antique graphic arts.
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This experience allows us to guarantee to each one of our customers the authenticity of the antiques in our catalogue and the shipment of their orders within 24 hours.
Customize for free the color of your museum quality bevel cut edge passepartout (acid free & neutral pH) among a color chart of 23 shades.
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