Artwork

The Victory Banquet: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems

The Victory Banquet: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This print is part of a series of etchings commissioned by Emperor Qianlong to commemorate a military campaign.

About this work

You see soldiers feasting under a tent, generals bowing to the emperor, and rows of captured weapons stacked like firewood.

You see soldiers feasting under a tent, generals bowing to the emperor, and rows of captured weapons stacked like firewood.

This print is one of a set the emperor ordered to celebrate a military win. He even wrote a poem on each one—like a royal tweet thread. The weapons aren’t just props; they’re real trophies from the fight.

Look up the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to see more of these victory stories.

Overview

This print is part of a series of etchings commissioned by Emperor Qianlong to commemorate a military campaign.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a victory banquet, with soldiers feasting and generals paying homage to the emperor, surrounded by captured weapons, symbolizing the triumph over rebellions in the Western Regions, a term referring to present-day Xinjiang province.

Technique & Style

The print is an etching, a technique used to create detailed and precise images, characteristic of the artistic style of the Qing dynasty.

History & Provenance

The etching was created during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), under the patronage of Emperor Qianlong, who also composed a poem to accompany it, expressing his pride in the military victory.