A pair of fine Chinese porcelain famille rose plates, early Qianlong, circa 1740, each painted with lady equestrians galloping through an openwork arbour while three men on a covered terrace look on beneath a gilt sun, the border with precious object reserves on elaborate geometric grounds, 21.7 cm diameter. The scene taken from the Romance of Sui and Tang written by the Qing dynasty author, Chu Renhuo (1635-1682). The book fictionalises the historical events leading to the Sui dynasty and subsequent rise of the Tang dynasty. This scene probably depicts Emperor Yang watching the ladies of his palace in his West Park outside Luoyang. 清乾隆 粉彩隋唐演义图盘一对