Pair of Ancestor Portrait Panels

Believing that the departed continue to hold influence over the lives of the living, many Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, were commissioned specifically for ancestor worship and were believed to house the spirits of the deceased.

These 20th-century portraits continue this tradition, depicting male and female ancestors dressed in formal regalia and seated on thrones in a highly decorated interior. The paintings are set in elongated wooden frames styled after tall lattice room panels, with inset panels carved with auspicious objects and Shou (壽) symbols of longevity.

Additional Dimensions:
Paintings: 19.25"W x 33"H