Overview
In partnership with The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation, Christie’s Education is delighted to present Arts of China Livestreamed Lecture Series: Chinese Art and the World, and Imperial Taste and Chinese Art. Imperial Taste and Chinese Art, running from November 18th to 22nd, will explore the fascinating history of imperial patronage throughout dynastic China.
The evolution of Chinese art has frequently reflected the distinctive tastes of its emperors, whose personal preferences and avid collecting have profoundly shaped its direction and global influence. Artefacts associated with imperial use and collection have long been highly coveted by collectors, commanding record prices at auctions worldwide.
Led by distinguished art historian Nixi Cura, this comprehensive five-day course delves into the monumental contributions of five of China's most influential emperors from the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties: Huizong, Yongle, Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. Participants will explore the unique artistic attributes that defined each emperor's reign, with in-depth discussions ranging from the works of important court painters to the vibrant palettes of blue-and-white and Famille Rose porcelain.
The course begins in the Song Dynasty with Emperor Huizong’s profound artistic mastery and connoisseurial guidance, which had far-reaching effects that redefined court aesthetics in dynastic China. The narrative then shifts to the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle Emperor, a vigorous promoter of Tibetan Buddhist art, before concluding with a trilogy of Qing Emperors—Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong—whose reigns were characterised by flourishing patronage and cross-cultural diffusion that profoundly influenced painting, ceramics, cloisonné, and other facets of Chinese artistic expression.
Through their artistic talents, policy directions, and patronage, these emperors have both directly and indirectly steered the course of Chinese art, leaving a legacy rich with stories of artistic patronage and cultural enrichment.
About The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation
The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation aims to support the promotion of Asian Art education to a wider audience. Our partnership builds on existing programmes at Christie’s Education, enabling conversations with scholars and academics, and focused programmes on Chinese Works of Art, Chinese Paintings, as well as developing Asian contemporary art. The Foundation also offers a selected number of full-time students to join the programmes on a complimentary basis. Please stay tuned with us or email us to indicate your interest using your university email address. Requests sending from non-institution domain will not be processed.
Nixi Cura 
