Emperor Qianlong on Horseback

Although the face of the rider resembles the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1736–96), he would never have appeared in public without the large retinue that always accompanied an imperial procession. Paintings of imperial pastimes, however, do not necessarily document actual events. However, the painting seems suspicious and may have been painted in the 1920s for sale as a forgery. It bears a spurious signature of Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, 1688–1766) and spurious seals.

Traditionally attributed to Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766)