Small portrait of Luzhu

This painting was created in 1823, in Qing dynasty, and it is called Small portrait of Luzhu (Lüzhu Xiaoxiang Tu). It is one of the masterpieces by the famous Late Qing painter Gai Qi, who was known for his ability to portray beautiful women or meiren. The current medium is ink and light color washes on paper mounted as a hanging scroll. Its image size is 128,3 x 43,8 cm. The subject of the painting is the legendary concubine Lüzhu, who was also known as the Green Pearl, of the 4th century Jin dynasty. She is considered one of the most virtuous women in Chinese history and literature. Tradition tells us that she committed suicide by jumping from the building’s window, as her beloved master Shi Chong’s enemy, who was a corrupt politician, forced her to do so. This tragic story is not depicted in the painting; instead, we can see the graceful image of Luzhu, portrayed in a very delicate manner typical of the Early Qing masters. The brushwork accurately conveys the fine bones and muscles of this woman’s body, as well as her posture. Her facial expression is also very fine and melancholic, as we can see from the thin brushwork and the light color washes that reveal the shadow under the lashes. In the top right corner, there is also a poem by Gai Qi, written with the calligraphy brushwork, and several seals of the painting’s owners from the 19th and 20th centuries. All of the above elements help us appreciate the beauty of this masterpiece. It also makes us realize Gai Qi’s contribution to the art of figure painting in the Qing dynasty.