snuff bottle, within inside painting of famous beijing opera start tan xinpei. ma shaoxuan, c 1895. inside-painting on glass

ma shaoxuan (1867-1939) was a prominent inside painter of muslim (uyghur) descent whose biography was preserved & recorded by his family after his death. he painted many portraits of contemporary chinese cultural figures, which the public would have recognized from well known photographs. ma lived near an operahouse and was both a fan, and an amateur singer of arias. tan xinpei, a famous star, would have appeared on many snuff bottles.

inside painting held 2 traditional chinese forms of art - painting and calligraphy. calligraphy mastery is a traditionally prized visual art as well, and even my parents' generation have a lot of respect for it, and alternatively deplore of my handwriting & feel somewhat proud when i manage a good-looking single character. 

starting in the early 19th century: the painting is done in reverse, with production centred in beijing. similarities to european techniques of reverse painting.