Imperial Chinese Paintings by Jiang Tingxi Rediscovered

Commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor and painted by court artist Jiang Tingxi (1669–1732), this group of six paintings represents the most significant rediscovery of Imperial Chinese art in recent years. Once lost from the Imperial Collection, these works have now been traced and will appear in Chiswick Auctions’ upcoming Fine Chinese Paintings sale.
Jiang Tingxi (1669 – 1732), Chickens, ink and colour on silk, six album leaves framed. 

The Kangxi Emperor remains one of China’s most powerful historical rulers. Reigning for 61 years, he demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to science, mathematics, astronomy, botany and the arts. His patronage led to the commissioning of a monumental Compendium of Birds, a natural history project illustrating 360 bird species, including these six refined paintings of chickens by Jiang Tingxi.

While chickens are often seen in Chinese art as symbols of fidelity and punctuality, here they serve a more scientific purpose. These studies were created not merely as decorative works, but as part of a systematic natural history archive. This elevates their cultural and historical significance.

Portrait of the Kangxi Emperor in Memoirs and Observations by Louis le Comte.

Imperial Copies and the Chiswick Rediscovery

So valued were these images that Kangxi’s grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, ordered court artists Zhang Weibang and Yu Sheng to recreate them. This later version remains a prized holding in the Palace Museum, Beijing. However, direct comparisons between those and the present six paintings reveal that the Chiswick group displays superior brushwork, detail and composition.

Palace Copy vs. Chiswick Originals
Side-by-side comparisons demonstrate the original set’s vitality and complexity, making this rediscovery a landmark moment for Chinese painting scholars and collectors alike.

Chiswick version

 
Palace Museum Version

Chiswick version

Palace Museum Version

Chiswick version

Palace Museum Version

Chiswick version

Palace Museum Version

A Rarity in the Market

Album leaves by Jiang Tingxi are exceptionally rare. A comparable album was sold in 2016 for 173 million RMB ($25 million USD) to collector Liu Yiqian, and is now on view at the Long Museum in Shanghai. Sets of six works, especially of this quality and provenance, are almost unheard of at auction.

Interested in the value of your Chinese paintings?

For a complimentary valuation or to discuss consigning your collection, please contact:

Asian Art Department
asian@chiswickauctions.co.uk

Palace museum images come from Gugong Jingdian: Qinggong niaopu, Beijing: Forbidden City Publishing House, 2014.