Ancestor Painting, Family Apothecary interspersing patterns around them

interspersing patterns around them

distressed to give an aged

Sold together as a pair

This was designed to make it difficult to access the furthest parts of the space inside

Ancestor Painting, Family Apothecary interspersing patterns around themAncestor paintings like this one were an important part of the widespread Chinese practice of ancestor worship. Families would remember and worship their ancestors with offerings placed in front of these paintings. Portraits were painted from front on and usually close to life size, with the subjects normally seated and wearing robes to show their rank badge. In many cases the portrait would be of a single ancestor, but they could also be of a couple