This large, colourful painting on canvas is a reproduction based on the ancestor portraits produced in China for centuries as part of the common practice of ancestor worship. Families would honour their ancestors by lighting joss sticks and placing offerings in front of their portraits, which would show either individuals, couples or in some cases several generations. The subjects would normally be shown seated, dressed in their official robes displaying the square badges of their rank. Here the husband and wife are dressed in traditional black and burgundy robes respectively, with the bird insignias on the front denoting their level within the court. The painting is supplied with a black frame as shown.