"Farewell My Concubine"
"Farewell My Concubine" Original
Watercolor, Acrylic, and Gouache on Silk
12 inches tall by 9 inches wide
Price $8,500 - Plus $150 Shipping
Watercolor, Acrylic, and Gouache on Silk
12 inches tall by 9 inches wide
Price $8,500 - Plus $150 Shipping
Wang Zhaojun was one of the Four Great Beauties of China. She lived during the Han dynasty. At the time, the Han emperor had just negotiated a peace treaty with the barbarians, and he was going to give one of his concubines to the barbarian king as a peace offering. Painters were dispatched to paint the portraits of more than 2,000 concubines in the harem, so he could select the homeliest one to give to the barbarian king.
One of the painters was an evil and corrupt man. He solicited bribes from the women he painted. When Zhaojun refused to succumb to his extortion attempt, he painted a large ugly birthmark on her face in the portrait. She was picked as the sacrificial lamb.
On the appointed day, the barbarian retinue came to escort their new queen home. When Zhaojun emerged from her chambers, everyone present could see she was the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen. The emperor wanted to renege on his promise, but his advisers warned of further bloodshed and warfare. Reluctantly, he had to let her go. But because of her courage and self sacrifice, she brought peace to the two kingdoms for many years to come.
One of the painters was an evil and corrupt man. He solicited bribes from the women he painted. When Zhaojun refused to succumb to his extortion attempt, he painted a large ugly birthmark on her face in the portrait. She was picked as the sacrificial lamb.
On the appointed day, the barbarian retinue came to escort their new queen home. When Zhaojun emerged from her chambers, everyone present could see she was the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen. The emperor wanted to renege on his promise, but his advisers warned of further bloodshed and warfare. Reluctantly, he had to let her go. But because of her courage and self sacrifice, she brought peace to the two kingdoms for many years to come.
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