The Audience of the Emperor

Woven from wool and silk, this delightful French tapestry of The Audience of the Emperor is one of the fanciful scenes from the chinoiserie series The Story of the Emperor of China, which illustrates episodes from the life of Emperor Shun Chih (reigned 1644-1661) and his successor, Kang Hsi (reigned 1661-1722).

The Emperor is depicted enthroned under a festooned architectural pavilion. Iridescent colors and exotic elements are employed for decorative ends, whimsically illustrating how European artists imagined China in the 18th century.