A Life Briefly Lived The history of the Qing dynasty is often told through the lives of those who lived long, influential eras, yet the story of Cai Jiating is one of brevity. Born in 1796, his presence in the annals of art is marked by a life that concluded in 1820. He was a painter who operated during a period of significant cultural transition, contributing his vision to the landscape of Chinese art before his time was cut short. Th…