A very beautiful pair of traditional reverse paintings of Chinese Nobles or a young Emperor and Empress. They are seated on their dragon throne chairs, ornately clad in traditional dress - the male with an imperial yellow robe and splendid dragon rank badge. The top of the picture is decorated with heavenly clouds and Buddhist symbols, flaming pearls are present both on the lower and upper areas, as well as an abundance of dragons and auspicious symbols.
The pair are seated infront of an ornate three panel screen or room divider also decorated with foliage and dragons. Painted from behind on glass, this is a skilled task for any artist.
Not overly sized like some ancestoral paintings, this pair are beautifully framed in older high quality traditional gloss rosewood with a older Chinoiserie style solid brass hanger/hook
Back is held in place by small wooden pegs under the paper (some areas have been opened for inspection previously). We estimate these to be Late Republic Period.
They are some of the nicest and most pleasing in terms of colour palette we have seen in a while.
Very good condition.  Very minor nicks on frame.  Back opened for inspection previously.
W14", H20.5" each one.
The Yongzheng emperor nominated his fourth son, Hongli, meaning "Great Successor", as his heir. He ruled from 1736 to 1796 as the Qianlong emperor. He was the great favorite of his grandfather, the Kangxi emperor, with whom he would go hunting as a boy. Some say that the Kangxi emperor chose Yongzheng as his successor so that he would eventually be succeeded by his grandson, although that would seem a risky prospect, as the Yongzheng emperor had ten sons (though only four survived into adulthood). The portrait very much reminds us of this individual.