‘”LES JESUITES MANDARINS.” / “LITH. PRODHOMME ET CIE., 3 PL. DU DOYENNE.”‘

– Historical scene showing Jesuit missionaries honored as mandarins in imperial China. A Jesuit figure is carried in a ceremonial sedan chair beneath a parasol while Chinese officials and soldiers accompany the procession near a pagoda-like building. The scene reflects European narratives about Jesuit influence within the Chinese imperial court.

In stock

Description

Medium: Tone lithograph with hand colouring on wove (vellin) paper.

Sheet size: 16 x 26 cm (6.3 x 10.24 inch). Image size: 10.7 x 16.2 cm. (4.21 x 6.38 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Light foxing, creasing, and soiling. Some dampstaining in bottom right margin, not effecting the image. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

JESUITS, CHINA, MANDARINS, MISSIONARY HISTORY, QING DYNASTY, CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN CHINA | PCO-BOX-MISC-1

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Adolphe Boucher: ‘Histoire dramatique et pittoresque des Jesuites’. Paris: R. Prin, 1846. Printer: Lithographie Prodhomme was a Parisian lithographic printing establishment active approximately between 1840 and 1890. The firm operated as an imprimeur fabricant (printing manufacturer) producing lithographic plates and book illustrations for publishers and illustrated works during the mid-19th century. The workshop was located at 69 rue des Noyers, Paris, and its imprint often appears as “Lith. Prodhomme” or with the address “3, Pl. du Doyenne.” The studio collaborated with artists and illustrators for historical and literary publications, including illustrated books issued in Paris in the 1840s such as Adolphe Boucher’s Histoire dramatique et pittoresque des Jesuites.

Reference: Bibliotheque nationale de France, departement Philosophie, histoire, sciences de l’homme, G-5509.

Biography engraver: Etienne Theophile Evariste Fragonard (1806-1876) was a French painter and illustrator, son of Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard and grandson of the Rococo painter Jean-Honore Fragonard. He produced many illustrations for literary and historical publications during the 1830s-1850s and worked as a painter at the Sevres porcelain manufactory.