THE CONSERVATION OF JUANQINZHAI: A PROTOTYPE FOR ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY

Abstract

Juanqinzhai is the most celebrated structure in the retirement complex that was built 1771–1776 within the Forbidden City, Beijing, for the Qianlong Emperor, under his direct supervision. One half of the building comprises a group of private rooms that surround an entry court and the other half contains a two-story theater. The interior is distinguished by the fully encompassing but different decorative schemes in these two areas and by the rarity of the materials used, most notably a group of trompe l'oeil murals in tempera on silk in the style of the Qing Dynasty court painter Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766). Largely unused after 1924, the interiors suffered from the increased building porosity and lack of attention. The World Monuments Fund provided technical assistance and financial support for the conservation of Juanqinzhai in specific areas that were identified by the Palace Museum: the mural painting, the architecture as a protective enclosure, and the applied and painted interior finishes, as well as the introduction of a limited environmental control system, low-voltage lighting, and an interpretation program to minimize the impact of visitor traffic. The project involved comparing methods of practice between Chinese and Western conservators, identifying traditional artisans who could revive or vary their skills for conservation of the original materials, and commissioning accurate reproductions of missing materials to complete the decorative scheme.