Chinese Empress Dowager Tszu-hsi (慈禧太后 ) Taking A Walk On The Bridge In The Imperial Garden

This rare ethnographic painting was created around 1906 by a Chinese artist and is signed in Chinese.

The image depicts a historical painting from 1906 showing Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty accompanying her court procession across a semicircular arch bridge in China.

Behind the Empress—a group of court ladies and officials (mandarins) in traditional attire are crossing a white stone arch bridge, while a boat is visible on the water in the background.

• The work dates from around 1906 and depicts ethnographic aspects of life at the Chinese imperial court.

For comparison, see an identical illustration published in the French magazine “Je sais tout” on March 15, 1906 (No. 14), with the caption “Empress Tszu-Hsi in her gardens,” depicting a court entourage surrounding the empress on a bridge at the Summer Palace.

Provenance: French private collection.

Inscription: signed and dated 1906 in the lower left corner, on the reverse of the stretcher—old stamp (artist’s or canvas?).


Technique: oil on canvas, framed

Dimensions: unframed: 50 x 66 cm; framed: 67.5 x 81.5 cm.

Condition: in good condition