Giuseppe Castiglione

• Honorific Prefix — Brother • Name — Giuseppe Castiglione • Honorific Suffix — S.J. • Born — 19 July 1688 • Birthplace — Milan, Duchy of Milan • Died — 17 July 1766 • Place of death — Beijing, Qing China • Resting Place — Zhalan Cemetery, Beijing • Other Names — 郎世寧 Pinyin • Known for — * Painting • architecture • Works — * One Hundred Horses • Four Afghan Steeds • Patron — * Kangxi Emperor • Yongzheng Emperor • Qianlong Emperor

Castiglione was born in Milan's San Marcellino district on 19 July 1688. He was educated at home with a private tutor, then a common practice among wealthy families. He also learned to paint under the guidance of a master. In 1707, he entered the Society of Jesus in Genoa aged 19. Although a Jesuit, he was never ordained as a priest, instead joining as a lay brother.

In addition to his skill as a painter, he was also in charge of designing the Western-Style Palaces in the imperial gardens of the Old Summer Palace with assistance from other Jesuits such as Jean-Denis Attiret. The project was initiated by Qianlong in 1747, in a garden once used by Yongzheng, with the construction of European-style palaces and gardens, aviaries, a maze, and perspective paintings organized as an outdoor theatrical stage, as well as fountains and waterworks designed by Michel Benoist. Castiglione also created trompe-l'œil paintings on the walls of the palaces. The buildings, however, were destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Castiglione's architectural works were lost, although influences of his trompe-l'œil murals survive in paintings on walls and ceilings which were executed by his assistant in Juanqinzhai in Qianlong Garden in the Forbidden City.

• Illustration — 心写治平 The Young Qianlong Emperor, 1736 • Illustration — 清高宗乾隆帝朝服像 The Qianlong Emperor in Court Dress, 1736 • Illustration — The Qianlong Emperor in Ceremonial Armour on Horseback, 1758 • Illustration — 郎世宁弘历观画图轴 The Qianlong Emperor Viewing Paintings, c. 1746-50 • Illustration — The Qianlong Emperor chasing a deer on a hunting trip, late 18th century • Illustration — 画鱼藻 Fish and Aquatic plants, 18th century • Illustration — 白鹘图 White Bird of Prey, after 1751 • Illustration — 畫白鷹 White Falcon, 1765 • Illustration — 畫錦春圖 Golden Pheasants in Spring, 18th century • Illustration — 畫孔雀開屏 Peacock Spreading Its Tail Feathers, 1758 • Illustration — 郎世宁嵩献英芝图轴 The Pine, Hawk and Glossy Ganoderma, 1724. Painted in honour of Yongzheng's birthday, • Illustration — 畫交阯果然 Cochin Lemur, 1761 • Illustration — Cangshuiqiu (苍水虬), Chinese greyhound, from 十骏犬图 Ten Prized Dogs Album • Illustration — 花底仙尨 Long-haired Dog Beneath Blossoms, c. 1727. • Illustration — 画瑞麅 Auspicious Roe Deer, after 1751 • Illustration — Hongyuzuo (红玉座) from 十骏图 Ten Steeds, 1748 • Illustration — Chaoni'er (超洱骢) from 爱乌罕四骏图 Four Afghan Steeds • Illustration — 畫阿玉錫持矛盪寇圖 Ayusi assailing the rebels with a lance, 1755 • Illustration — Ayusi Assailing The Rebels with a Lance, late 1755 • Illustration — 畫瓶花 Vase of Flowers, 18th century • Illustration — 郎世宁万寿长春图 Myriad Longevities in an Everlasting Spring • Illustration — 午瑞图 Flowers in the Vase • Illustration — 畫海西知時草 Time-Telling Plant from the West (Mimosa pudica), 1753

Giuseppe Castiglione is recorded as painter, missionary, draftsperson and architect.

• Illustration — One of the earliest surviving paintings by Castiglione in China in a blend of Chinese and European styles In the late 17th century, a number of European Jesuit painters served in the Qing court of the Kangxi Emperor who was interested in employing European Jesuits trained in various fields, including painting. In the early 18th century, Jesuits in China made a request for a painter to be sent to the imperial court in Beijing. Castiglione was identified as a promising candidate and he accepted the post. In 1710, on the way to Lisbon, he passed through Coimbra where he stayed for several years to decorate the chapel of St. Francis Borgia in the Church of the novitiate, today the New Cathedral of Coimbra. He painted several panels in the chapel and a Circumcision of Jesus for the main altar of the same church. In August 1715, Castiglione arrived in Macau, China, and reached Beijing later in the year. He stayed at a Jesuit church called St Joseph Mission or Eastern Hall (Dong Tang) in Chinese. He was presented to the Kangxi Emperor who viewed his painting of a dog, another source said a bird was also painted on the spot on Kangxi's request. However, no painting of Castiglione from the Kangxi period has survived. He was assigned a few disciples, but was placed to work as an artisan in the palace enamelling workshop. • Illustration — The Empress Xiaoxianchun While in China, Castiglione took the name Lang Shining (郎世寧). Castiglione adapted his European painting style to Chinese themes and taste. His earliest extant painting created in such style was from the first year of Yongzheng's reign in 1723. He was permitted to leave the enamel workshop by Yongzheng as it was affecting his eyesight. Although Castiglione was favoured by Yongzheng who commissioned a number of works by him, Yongzheng's reign was a difficult period for the Jesuits as Christianity was suppressed and those missionaries not working for the emperor were expelled. His skill as an artist was appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor, and Castiglione served the Emperor for three decades and was granted increasingly higher official rank within the Qing court. He spent many years in the court painting various subjects, including the portraits of the emperor and empress. Qianlong showed particular interest in paintings of tribute horses presented to the Emperor on which Castiglione painted a series, such as the Four Afghan Steeds. In 1765, Castiglione and other Jesuit painters also created a series of "Battle Copper Prints" commissioned by the Emperor to commemorate his military campaigns. Small-scale copies of his paintings were shipped to Paris and rendered into engravings with etching before being returned to China. This series of sixteen prints by Castiglione (who contributed two) and his contemporaries Jean-Denis Attiret, Ignatius Sichelbart and Jean-Damascène Sallusti were created in this way. Castiglione died in Beijing on 17 July 1766. An obituary was personally penned by Qianlong, who also erected a special stone in Castiglione's memory. He was buried in the Jesuits' Zhalan Cemetery in Beijing. • Illustration — Ruins of a structure at the Old Summer Palace

• Illustration — "Storming of the Camp at Gädän-Ola", a scroll depicting a raid in 1755 in which the Kalmuk Ayusi, having gone to the Chinese side, attacks Dawa achi's camp on Mount Gadan. Painting by Giuseppe Castiglione • Illustration — The Battle of Oroi-Jalatu, 1756. Chinese general Zhao Hui attacked the Zunghars at night in present Wusu, Xinjiang. Painting by Giuseppe Castiglione • Illustration — Battle of Tonguzluq, 1758. General Zhao Hui tries to take Yarkand but is defeated. Painting by Giuseppe Castiglione • Illustration — Battle of Qos-Qulaq, 1759. Chinese General Ming Rui defeats the Khoja army in Qos-Qulaq (north of Kara-Kul, Tajikistan). Painting by Giuseppe Castiglione • Illustration — A victory banquet given by the emperor to the distinguished officers and soldiers of the Huibu Rebellion (1758-1759). Painting by Giuseppe Castiglione