Beschreibung:

A LARGE CHINESE ANCESTOR PORTRAIT GROUP 19TH CENTURY Chinese ink and colour on paper 117cm x 113cm (various stains and repairs) For similar works, please refer to: Christies, South Kensington, 28 April, 2015, lot 202; and Christies, South Kensington, 18 March, 2012, lot 64 Catalogue note: China has a very long tradition of ancestor worship, and living family members would routinely perform rituals in order to honour their ancestors, sometimes asking for special favours or assistance from them, as they were considered to have the ability to influence the fortune of the living. The social aspect of the ritual was to cultivate family values, loyalty and lineage. Ancestral portraits were usually painted by anonymous artists in workshops and were designed to provide an important focal point for those rituals in the house. The portraits were considered objects of great value. A requisite to being portrayed was to have a high civil rank of government.