China, 1644-1912. Ink and watercolors on silk laid down on paper. Finely painted with the Emperor seated on a wood throne on a fine diapered rug, two female attendants standing behind him holding large fans, another at his side holding up a cup with a spoon inside. A courtier is kneeling in front of the Emperor, supported by an elderly companion. All within a palace terrace with peonies and rockwork as well as an elaborate key fret-style display containing various scholar’s objects and a tall gnarled wood stand with two vases.

Provenance: British trade.
Condition: Good condition overall with some old wear, minor soiling, creases, small losses, minor tears to edges, few small holes.

Dimensions: Size 74.5 x 55 cm

The Hongxi Emperor (1378-1425), personal name Zhu Gaochi, was the fourth Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1424 to 1425. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name Hongxi means ‘vastly bright’. Zhu Gaochi was born on 16 August 1378 and was educated by prominent Confucian tutors. He often acted as regent in Nanjing or Beijing during his father's northern military campaigns. He was uninterested in military matters but had prowess in archery. Upon taking the throne, he restored disgraced Confucian officials, such as the Yongle Emperor's minister of revenue Xia Yuanji (imprisoned since 1421), and reorganized the administration to give high ranks to his close advisors. Hanlin academicians became grand secretaries, and they dismantled his father’s unpopular militaristic policies to restore the civil government. The Hongxi Emperor improved finances by canceling requisitions for lumber, gold, and silver. Taxes were remitted so that vagrant farmers could return home, especially in the overburdened Yangtze River Delta. The Hongxi Emperor appointed a commission to investigate taxes. He overruled his secretaries by ordering that grain should be sent immediately to relieve disaster areas. The Hongxi Emperor ordered that the capital be moved back to Nanjing from Beijing (which had been made the capital by the Yongle Emperor in 1421). However, he died a month later, probably of a heart attack, in May 1425. His son had been declared heir apparent and became the Xuande Emperor at age 26. Although the Hongxi Emperor had a short reign, he is credited with reforms that made lasting improvements, and his liberal policies were continued by his son.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 28 June 2017, lot 6432
Price: USD 4,750 or approx. EUR 5,150 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Anonymous (20^th century), Birthday Celebration
Expert remark: Compare the closely related depiction of an audience with an emperor or ruler, also painted on silk. Note the larger size (142.8 x 82 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 17 May 2019, lot 464
Price: GBP 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Chinese School, Qing dynasty, 19^th century
Expert remark: Note the larger size (206 x 125 cm)



清代《洪熙帝接見圖》
中國，1644-1912年，絹本設色，鏡心。工筆精美描繪洪熙帝坐皇座上。兩位女官站在他身後，手持大扇子，一側站著一位宮妃，端著一個杯子。一位朝臣跪在皇帝面前，由一位年長的侍官扶著。皇帝的右側有一排博古架，上可見佛手瓜、蘭草、盆景和書籍等文房用品。另一側可見假山以及富貴牡丹。

來源：英國古玩市場。
品相：整體狀況良好，有一些磨損、輕微污漬、摺痕、少量缺損、邊緣輕微撕裂、少量小孔。

尺寸：74.5 x 55 厘米

明仁宗朱高熾（1378年8月16日－1425年5月29日），年號洪熙，明成祖嫡長子，明朝第四代皇帝。永樂二年（1404年），立為皇太子，並在明成祖屢次北伐中，擔任監國職位，實際負責國家政事。永樂二十二年（1424年），繼承皇位，年號“洪熙”，在位期間，採取一系列政治、經濟、軍事改革與調整，國家富足。仁宗與子明宣宗在政治用人、行政處理上，均為後世所稱善，史稱“仁宣之治”。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2017年6月28日，lot 6432
價格：USD 4,750（相當於今日EUR 5,150 ）
描述：二十世紀萬壽節圖
專家評論：比較非常相近的對皇帝或統治者的描繪，也是絹本設色。請注意尺寸較大 (142.8 x 82 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2019年5月17日，lot 464
價格：GBP 10,000（相當於今日EUR 12,500 ）
描述：十九世紀皇帝與皇子圖
專家評論：請注意尺寸較大(206 x 125 厘米)。