Chinese Qing dynasty school, 19th century."Manchu warrior of the Qing dynasty".Silk painting.Signatures and calligraphic inscriptions.Some soiling and damp stains.Size: 92 x 71 cm; 125 x 90 cm (frame).This painting could belong to the middle period of the Qing dynasty, where court painting, popular in the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, is prominent. The main themes are: portraits of emperors, their wives and ministers, life at court, historical events, mountains, rivers, etc.Manchu warriors, like the one shown in this painting, were renowned for their skill as mounted archers (a skill that woulde in handy when they left northeast China to destroy the Ming dynasty), hunting small animals on horseback for food, sport and prestige.The Qing emperors fervently embraced Chinese culture and became great patrons of the arts. In contrast to the Yuan Dynasty, the Qing emperors were eager to employ Chinese scholars and artists at court.Dimensions: 92 x 71 cm; 125 x 90 cm (frame).