Flowers and a Pair of Cranes Lang Shih-ning (Giuseppe Castiglione, 1688-     1766),Ch'ing Dynasty Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk, 170.7 x     93.1cm

Lang Shih-ning, born Giuseppe Castiglione, was a native of Milan, Italy. At the age of 19, he entered the Jesuit order as a novitiate. He became not only learned in painting, but also architecture. At 27, he traveled to China as a missionary. Since he specialized in painting, he came to serve the court under three emperors. His distinct style combined traditional Chinese materials with Western techniques, such as perspective and modeling, to represent mostly Chinese subjects. His opulent colors combined with strong Western realism, creating for the lifelike effect of his works.      The volumetric effect of the pair of cranes among flowers in this work is testimony to his unique style, resulting in a lifelike feeling as if the subject is before one's eyes.