In ancient times, whether it was a Western country or a Central Plains dynasty, there was no photographic technology, in this case, people want to leave photos, it is certainly unrealistic. Although there is no high-tech photography, the ancient portrait technology is superior, and to this day, people can still see many realistic portraits.
Puyi has a photo, except for the last emperor, no other emperor in history has left a photo. During the Qing Dynasty, due to the entry of missionaries from Western countries, most of the Qing emperors left portraits, which is somewhat fortunate compared with other emperors in history, and these portraits even appeared in color. This is something that other dynastic emperor portraits do not have.
What does the Emperor look like? We didn't know and were curious. The appearance of the emperor recorded in the history books will make us feel the same. In all the records of the emperor, there will be such a description, that is, the emperor is the embodiment of the dragon, such a view appeared as early as qin shi huang established the Qin dynasty. Qin Shi Huang considered himself to be the Son of Heaven, and even more the embodiment of the dragon.
There were many outstanding painters in the ancient court, they should be able to draw the true appearance of the emperor, but at that time, the painters only painted gods and did not paint its true, because of the identity of the emperor, the court painters did not dare to paint the true appearance of the emperor, in such a situation, it is very difficult for future generations to truly understand the appearance of the emperor.
Even if the painter knows that the emperor looks ugly, but in order to shape the image of the emperor, the painter will paint the emperor very deeply, for example, Zhu Yuanzhang is the best example. Zhu Yuanzhang looks strange and ugly, but the painter does not dare to paint his true appearance truthfully, and can only beautify it, and the beautified image of the emperor lacks a sense of reality.
In the modern period, oil painting appeared, and later spread to China, and oil painting was also introduced to the palace. Oil painting pays attention to realism, which shows that the true appearance of the emperor may be seen in modern times. From this point of view, after Western missionaries entered the Qing Dynasty, they began to paint for the Qing Emperor, and because of this, the Qing Emperor left a portrait.
The images painted in Western oil paintings are very real, so people can see what the real Qing emperors looked like. During the Kangxi Dynasty, an Italian oil painter named Lang Shining came to China and went to the palace to become a painter who painted portraits of the emperor. It should be known that Lang Shining experienced the three periods of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, and died during the Qianlong period, and he dedicated his life to the Qing Dynasty.
Lang Shining was a rare and excellent painter in the world at that time, and his works can be described as "photos". After arriving in the Qing Dynasty, Lang Shining began to study traditional Chinese painting, learn Chinese style, and then integrate Chinese painting with his Western oil painting. Lang Shining was a court painter, so he had to paint portraits of the emperor, and his portraits of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong were the most famous, especially the most outstanding of Qianlong.
Through the portrait of Lang Shining, it can be seen that the appearance of the Qianlong Emperor is still very handsome, that is to say, the Qianlong Emperor is still very handsome. Through Lang Shining's portrait, posterity can see the appearance of the Qianlong Emperor, which is more impactful than reading history books. Then the height of the Qianlong Emperor is not high, about one meter six seven, such a height in today's time, it must be relatively short.