Emperor Qianlong And Collectors And The Reasons For Female Artist Chen Shu Works

In this thesis, it describes the phenomenon that emperor Qianlong shows his interest in collecting and appraising the works of a female artist Chen Shu, and focuses on Qianlong' s attitude and the reasons behind it. Chen Shu (1660-1736), is recorded in the history as the example of outstanding female behavior, but missed the identity of a professional artist. But by collected and recorded in , the fate of the female artist -Chen Shu - changed. What are the reasons for Qianlong to collect and appraise Chen Shu' s works? How does Qianlong recognize Chen Shu' s works?In the writer' s view, there are three reasons for Qianlong to appraise Chen Shu' s work. First is due to Qian Chenqun, Chen Shu' s son. He sent his mother' s work as tribute. Second, Qianlong recognizes the female artists, especially the mood and style of Chen Shu' s work and her behavior meet Qianlong' s aesthetics and values orientation. Third, the work of Chen Shu is treated as the exchange between Qianlong and Qian Chenqun, the way to contact and flattery. Poetry, painting and calligraphy are the methods, and with some reasons, Qian Chenqun selects his mother' s work for the emperor. As the literature attendants, Qian Chenqun is one of the most closed ministers and friends of Qianlong, and Qian Chenqun' s tribute is different from the meaning of secular by Qianlong. Also with Qianlong' s collection and appraise of the female works, it shows the high recognition and focus of the society for the female artist, and this promotes the female painting and the relevant civil collection. So with the effort of both government and civil, the female painting breaks the obstacles of secular status and add a commemorative mark in the history of ancient China painting.