Estimate

2.000 - 3.000

Session

8 May 2026

Description

China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century

Watercolour and ink on paper

Depicting episodes from the classical novel Sanguo Yanyi (三國演義), "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", attributed to Luo Guanzhong (14th century)

Each sheet with a lower cartouche inscribed with the episode title and corresponding chapter number

a) He Jin mou sha shi changshi (何進謀殺十常侍), "He Jin plots the assassination of the Ten Eunuchs", opening episode of the narrative

b) Zhang Liao yi shuo Guan Yunchang (張遼義說關雲長), "Zhang Liao appeals to Guan Yu's sense of righteousness", chapter 25

c) Guo Jia yi ji ding Liaodong (郭嘉遺計定遼東), "Guo Jia's posthumous stratagem pacifies Liaodong", chapter 33

d) Cao Cao Sanjiang yue shuijun (曹操三江閱水軍), "Cao Cao reviews the naval forces at Sanjiang", chapter 48

(Staining, overall paper oxidation, creases, minor losses and tears to the margins, more pronounced on sheet d)



《三国演义》故事画一组四幅，中国，清十九世纪，纸本设色，分别描绘何进谋杀十常侍、张辽义说关云长、郭嘉遗计定辽东、曹操三江阅水军等情节，每幅下方设题识卡，注明回目。

36x45 cm

Additional Information

Note:

The Sanguo Yanyi (三國演義), "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, traditionally attributed to Luo Guanzhong (c. 1330-1400). Blending historical chronicle with fictional elaboration, it recounts the conflicts between the kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu during the disintegration of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the subsequent Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), and stands as one of the principal sources of the Chinese heroic, military and political imagination.

Throughout the Qing Dynasty, the novel's popularity gave rise to a substantial production of pictorial series illustrating selected episodes, intended both for the domestic literati market and for export. The present sheets belong to this tradition, combining scenographic composition with textual identification of each episode and reference to its chapter, in a register that brings narrative painting close to illustrated woodblock printing and popular theatre.