yi lantai
Yi Lantai: A Pioneer of Qing Dynasty Copperplate Printing Yi Lantai (Yilantai), born around 1749, was a Manchu court artist who stands as a testament to the transformative influence of Western artistic techniques on Chinese art during the Qianlong reign (1735-1796). His formative years were spent under the tutelage of Giuseppe Castiglione, arguably the most celebrated Jesuit missionary and artist serving the Qing imperial court. This…
The Lifeline
Scroll through yi lantai's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups yi lantai's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.
