L. Newton Hayes, The Chinese Dragon

Dragons in imperial portraiture

Hayes identifies the seated figure as Yung Cheng and identifies him as the son of Kang Hsi, whose portrait appears elsewhere in the book. Dragons fill the robe and the structure of the throne. The plate makes imperial identity visible through repeated ornament across clothing, furniture and the enclosing composition. This entry concerns the portrait as reproduced and explained by Hayes, with the older names used in his caption.