The Victory of Khorgos

Art Historical Context

**The Victory of Khorg** (1774) is a etching and engraving created by a trio of French artists: Jean-Denis Attiret, who designed the composition; Jacques-Philippe Le Bas, and-Nicolas Cochin II, both master engravers. Produced on a grand scale—measuring nearly 40 by 26 inches on the sheet—this print captures the chaos and triumph of battle, teeming with soldiers, horses, and dynamic combat scenes as suggested by its tags. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies 18th-century printmaking's power to disseminate grand historical narratives to wide audiences. The artwork commemorates the Qing dynasty's pivotal 1758 victory at Khorgos (also known as Khoergoz) during Emperor Qianlong's campaigns against the Dzungar Khanate in Central Asia. Attiret, a Jesuit missionary and painter at the Qing court, likely drew from firsthand imperial records or sketches, blending European perspective with Eastern subject matter. Published over a decade later, it reflects Europe's fascination with China's expansive empire and military prowess. Artistically, the etching and engraving techniques allowed for intricate details in armor, weaponry, and equine motion, making this a technical marvel of the Rococo era transitioning to Neoclassicism. Le Bas and Cochin's precise burin work on the copper plate ensured fidelity to Attiret's vision, turning a distant triumph into an accessible spectacle that bridged cultures and celebrated imperial glory.

About the Artist

Jean Denis Attiret|Jacques Philippe Le Bas|Charles Nicolas Cochin II (French|French|French) · 1715 |1741 |1702 –1790 |1811 |1768

French, Paris 1715–1790 Paris|French, Cysoing 1741–1811 Paris|French, 1702–1768