Large Chinese Scroll Depicting A Scene Of Ancestor Worship, 19th Century

An important vertical Chinese painting on paper, depicting a ritual scene of ancestor worship.

At the top of the composition, two ancestors dressed in traditional clothing are seated within an architectural setting. In the center, a richly adorned offering table is visible, featuring incense burners, ritual vases, and liturgical objects. Several figures in dignitary costumes participate in the ancestor veneration ceremony. The bottom of the composition, framed by a beautiful architectural setting (notably the pair of stone lions flanking the entrance), is populated with numerous figures dressed in traditional robes, likely arriving to participate in the homage ceremony.

This type of image was often intended to be hung in homes or temples during ancestral commemoration ceremonies, particularly during certain traditional festivals. The painting is executed in ink and colors on paper, in a palette dominated by blue and green.

220 x 115 mm external dimensions
152 x 99 mm painting on paper