Xie Guanqiao (1810-1864)

Painting on silk. XIXth century. China.

Famous Chinese legend of the dragon's painter.

The Emperor asks the painter to draw a fresco with the dragon. The painter executes himself but does not draw the eyes of the dragon.

The Emperor does not understand why and forces him to finish the painting and add the eyes of the dragon.

Once finished, the dragon's painting becomes alive, raises a storm and flies away. 

Xie Guanqiao was a painter from Zhao'an province during the Qing dynasty. This province gave birth to several major painter during the Qing dynasty.

Writings next to the painter's stamp mention that this painting has been realized at Mr XIE's house, the house of thousand books and hundred inkwells.