This painting represents Princess Yang Kwei-Fei, the celebrated favorite
of the Emperor T’ang Huan Tsung, returning from her bath. It is an
excellent example of the Ming period (1368-1644 A. D.), lovely in color,
distinguished by courtly elegance and refinement of drawing. It has been
attributed to Yiu Kiu, also named Tze-Kiu. The daughter of a petty
functionary, the Princess Yang became in 735 A. D. one of the concubines
of the Emperor’s eighteenth son. Her surpassing beauty and
accomplishments won the affections of the Emperor himself. So great was
her ascendancy over this weak voluptuary that the Imperial favorite was
treated by the court with demonstrations of respect that justly
appertained to none save the Empress Consort; members of her family were
raised to high office; and no outlay was spared in gratifying the caprice
and covetousness of the Princess or her relatives. It is not surprising
that a rebellion resulted. During the flight of the court in 756 A. D.
the Imperial guard revolted, and the Emperor was constrained to order the
Princess Yang to be strangled.
[Vase. Ming Period]