According to the auction organizer, Tianjin International Auctions Co. Ltd., one of the first works to be auctioned off will be a painting with the portraits of Yongzheng and Qianlong, two of China's Qing Dynasty emperors, done by Italian monk Giuseppe Castiglione.

The Italian artist came to China in 1715 and served as the royal painter for three consecutive emperors of the Qing Dynasty, including two of the most famous, Kangxi Emperor and his grandson Qianlong. The artist died in 1766.

Castiglione is known in Chinese art history for his introduction of western painting techniques, and his works recorded most of the great moments of the Qianlong Emperor who ruled from 1736 to 1795, one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history.

Ancient porcelain from the Song Dynasty dating back some 1000 years, as well as works by several modern Chinese painters such as Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong and Huang Binhong, will also be up for auction.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2002)