Art takes many forms and serves many functions. In this selection of Chinese court dress dating from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the phrase "you are what you wear" resonates. Vollmer journeys
back to thirteenth-century Jin dynasty Chinese empire, where ancestors of the Manchu conquerors dressed fittingly. These beautiful garments remind us that although royalty once set fashion
standards in the way that celebrities do today, these robes also promoted distinct national and political messages that helped to keep a ruling minority in power for nearly three hundred
years.
Over fifty colour photographs, including details of exquisitely wrought robes for members of the imperial Qing court, period portraits, and details from a rare hand scroll illustrating the
Chinese emperor's tour of cities along the Grand Canal, bring Dressed to Rule: 18th Century Court Attire in the Mactaggart Art Collection to life.
Vollmer's text illuminates the history of the political, cultural, and social developments behind the pageantry, deepening our appreciation for the rich and complex history of China.
Dressed to Rule is a guide to the exhibition of the same name the first public showing of the University of Alberta's magnificent Mactaggart Art Collection.
