History & Eternity

Giuseppe Castiglione, alias Lang Shining, spent more than 50 years living in China as a painter at the courts of three Qing dynasty Emperors. In a unique blend of Chinese and European cultures, his paintings capture truth, virtue and beauty into eternity.

•The scroll-shaped porcelain piece gives one an impression that the spirited horse is jumping out of the painting while the scroll is being unrolled.

Court Artist: Giuseppe Castiglione

Following the completion of the documentary on Johann Adam Schall von Bell, who spent most of his life as a Catholic missionary in China, the Embassy of the Holy See in the ROC continues to sponsor Kuangchi Program Service (KPS) for making a documentary on the 18th century Italian Jesuit and artist Giuseppe Castiglione.

In 1715, Castiglione went to China as a missionary. He introduced the technique of Western perspective into China while working as a court painter. Franz designer Lee re-interpreted his painting entitled ‘Afghan Four Steeds’ and designed four “Steed” porcelain vases.

At the dinner banquet for celebrating the documentary on Giuseppe Castiglione, Franz presented four “Steed” vases as a gift, hoping to pass on the cultural legend of Giuseppe Castiglione into eternity.