Framed Ancestor Portrait

This intricately detailed composition is a late-Qing dynasty ancestor portrait depicting several generations of a family's male ancestry. Originally accompanied by a matching portrait of female ancestry, this painting would have been displayed in the home as the object of familial ancestor worship. When properly cared for, ancestors were believed to be a powerful source of honor, protection, and good luck. Arranged chronologically, these male ancestors are shown dressed in formal attire and seated before a patchwork of painted screens and tables set with precious objects.