Palace ladies on a pavilion terrace, one playing a harp, while others pick flowers in the garden below

The Imperial Consort’s Morning Toilette

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What you see

The scene unfolds on two levels. Above, on a pavilion terrace, a lady in red sleeves sits in a chair adjusting her hair; judging by the title, she seems to be the consort. Other ladies surround her: one plays a curved harp and another holds a dark instrument. Below, in the garden, several women and a smaller figure gather flowers, and on the right a maid in blue comes down the steps carrying a long object.

The colors are soft and slightly faded: creams, pale blues and touches of strong red on sleeves and sashes. The blossoming trees are built from tiny dots. Spot the white bird flying near the steps and the little landscapes painted into the base of the pavilion.

About Qiu Ying

Qiu Ying was born around 1494 into a peasant family in Taicang and began in Suzhou as an artisan decorating lacquerware before becoming a professional painter. His meticulous, elegant brushwork and his gift for copying Song and Yuan paintings won him the favour of wealthy collectors such as Xiang Yuanbian. He is counted today among the Four Masters of the Ming dynasty, and his daughter Qiu Zhu also became a painter.

All 12 works by Qiu Ying

More by Qiu Ying

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