Taiwan Stamps : 1991 Peacocks, Scott 2827a, painted by Giuseppe Castiglione - S/S - MNH-VF, flesh dealer stocks - (9T0ED) - (9T0ED)

Taiwan Stamps : 1991 Peacocks, Scott 2827a, painted by Giuseppe Castiglione - S/S - MNH-VF, flesh dealer stocks : To introduce the exquisite classical art of our country, this Directorate released a set of Ancient Chinese Painting "Peacocks" Postage Stamps and a souvenir sheet (138??102 mm.). The painting done by Lang Shin-ning (Giuseppe Castiglione 1688-1766) is in the National Palace Museum collection. The painting is in ink and color on silk hanging scroll, 282 cm. wide and 328 cm. long. This painting depicts two peacocks in a garden. One is standing under a flower and spreading its tail feathers while the other is walking and looking back. The rocks in the garden are pretty and magnolia, peony, rose and cherry-apple are all in bloom.Giuseppe Castiglione, born in Milan, Italy, entered the Jesuit order at the age of 19, studied under Br. Andrea Pozzo, SJ, came to China in 1715, and was appointed court painter at the Imperial Palace in Beijing. He served in this position under three emperors, painting under the Chinese name Lang Shih-ning. He became a key figure in the artistic revival of the time, introducing Chinese painters to perspective, three-dimensionality and other western techniques. Combining typical Chinese material with western technique, he was particularly known for portraits and animals, especially horses. Very popular with the postal services, Castiglione's paintings are on almost 40 stamps, and one stamp is dedicated to the Old Summer Palace at Beijing which he also designed.