Chinese Figure Painting

Courtly Ladies 1:
Painted Faces & ¾ Figure
 Courtly Ladies

The patronage of the Sui and Tang

court attracted painters from all over
the Empire and this led to a rise in
figure painting.
Women and Beauty in Ancient China

During the Qin and Han dynasties,

there was a great emphasis on strong
feminine beauty characterised by a
powdered white complexion, a wide
forehead, a round face and a petite
slim figure.
Women and Beauty in Ancient China

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, a

natural and rounded healthy figure
emerged.

Good health and therefore rounder

body was favoured.
Women and Beauty in Ancient China
Ancient Chinese Beauty Criteria:

Black lustrous hair.

Loosely coiled hair on the head to give an

appearance of added height.

Finely shaped eyebrows, which were shaven and

drawn in with pigments.
Women and Beauty in Ancient China
Ancient Chinese Beauty Criteria:

Large, bright expressive eyes.

Red lips and white teeth.

Graceful fingers and fairy and fleshy arms.

Slender waist and fair skin. Willowy figure.

Women and Beauty in Ancient China
Ancient Chinese Beauty Criteria:

Tiny feet and a light elegant gait.

Dressing according to complexion, figure and

disposition.

Fragrant body.
 Make-up

The golden age of

the Tang dynasty
was when make-up
blossomed.
 1. Powdering the Face

This involved whitening the face with rice

powder.
A pale white complexion was desired and
was considered a high social position and
of health.
Darker skin was associated with working
outdoors and with the people of the
lower social classes.
 2. Rouging the Cheeks

This involved applying colour to the

cheeks to give the cheeks a healthy rosy
colour.
 3. Tracing the Eyebrows

This was very elaborate during the Tang

dynasty with many varying shapes and
sizes.

Sometimes the eyebrows were shaved

off and a pigment was applied above
instead.
3. Tracing the Eyebrows
3. Tracing the Eyebrows
 4. Gilding the Forehead

This involved applying a yellow ochre

pigment on the forehead, making it look
as if it was gilded with gold.
 5. Colouring the Lips
Lips were a highly emphasised form of
Chinese beauty.

Lipsticks were used to seal the lips from

dry cold air, cool temperatures and wind
and prevented the lips from cracking.

The first lip balm was made from

vermillion and from powdered cinnabar.
 5. Colouring the Lips

Fan-shaped lips were popular during the

Wei, Jin and Northern dynasties.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties more

popular patterns emerged.

Cherry patterns became very popular as

well as lips in the shape of flower petals
 6. Dotting the Cheeks

To compliment the lips and rest of the

face, dots were applied to create the idea
of dimples.
 7. Facial Floral Decorations

According to legend Princess Shouyang

was resting under a plum tree when a
flower drifted down on her forehead
leaving a floral imprint that lasted for
three days.

This created a fashion called “Mei hua

Zhuang” or plum flower make up.
The Masters
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies Preparing Silk
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies Preparing Silk
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies Preparing Silk
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies Preparing Silk
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies of Guo on a Spring
Excursion
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies of Guo on a Spring Excursion
Zhang Xuan (713-907) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies of Guo on a Spring Excursion
Zhou Fang (730-800) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies with Flowered
Headdresses
Zhou Fang (730-800) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies with Flowered
Headdresses
Zhou Fang (730-800) (Tang dynasty)
Court Ladies with Flowered
Headdresses
 Tang Yin
(1470-1524)
(Ming dynasty)
Court Ladies in
the Shu Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Qiu Ying (1494-1552) (Ming dynasty)
Spring Morning in the Han Palace