Artwork

Battle at Yixi'er Ku'ernao'er: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems

Battle at Yixi'er Ku'ernao'er: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems is a print by the Romanticist artist Jean Damascene Sallusti. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The soldiers wear Qing Dynasty armor, and the artist used fine lines to show details like spears and flags.

This painting shows a battle scene with soldiers fighting on rocky terrain. The soldiers wear Qing Dynasty armor, and the artist used fine lines to show details like spears and flags.

Emperor Qianlong ordered these etchings to celebrate his victories. He added poems to each one, bragging about his generals and troops. The Western Regions meant Central Asia to him.

Look up Jean Damascene Sallusti (Italian, d. 1781) next.

Overview

This etching is part of a series depicting military campaigns in the Western Regions, commissioned by Emperor Qianlong to commemorate his victories.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows Qing Dynasty soldiers engaged in battle on rugged terrain, symbolizing the emperor's military prowess and control over Central Asia, referred to as the 'Western Regions'.

Technique & Style

The artist employed fine lines to render detailed armor, spears, and flags, characteristic of the etching technique used in the series.

History & Provenance

The etching was created under Emperor Qianlong's patronage, with the emperor appending a poem to each work in the series, including this one, to express his pride in the military achievements depicted.