Through a mountain ravine winds a small cascade.  The branch of a pine tree enters from the side, atop of which is a single white falcon.  It appears as if it has just heard some sound, and startled prepares to take off.  During Chien-lung's reign, Lang Shih-ning gradually began to incorporate Chinese techniques more and more in his painting.  In this scroll the body of the falcon is very finely described with white pigment, imparting an extraordinarily tactile quality to its downy light feathers.  Though its body is soft and well-rounded, the falcon's fierce air is clearly expressed in its spirited eye, pointed beak and sharp claws.  The pine and rocks that round out the scene are entirely painted with the sketchy brush-and-ink style of Chinese painting.  Thus, the skillfulness of Lang Shih-ning's techniques are well presented, as well as the accuracy of his verisimilitude.  His signature reads, "On the tenth day of the intercalary fifth month, the sixteenth year of the Chien-lung reign (1751), the Grand Secretary, Lord Chung-yung Fu Heng presented a white falcon to the emperor and ordered the servitor from the west of the seas, Lang Shih-ning, to paint this picture."  In the upper left corner is Emperor Chien-lung's poem, written in the semi-cursive script by Chi Huang (not recorded here).  His calligraphy is signed, "Servitor Chi Huang respectfully writes "Song of the White Falcon,' composed by the emperor."  Two seals follow: Chen Huang and pi hua chun yu.

Lang Shih-ning (Giuseppe Castiglione, 1688 - 1766) was a native of Milan, Italy.  At the age of nineteen he entered the Jesuit Order, and in 1715 traveled to China where he served as a painter to the three courts of the Emperors Kang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Chien-lung.  Before he came to China, Lang Shih-ning already possessed considerable training as a Western style painter and architect.  Utilizing naturalistic Western techniques to capture the absolute likeness of his subject's form and spirit, Lang Shih-ning's paintings gained the admiration of the emperors.  A number of the painters who served the court were influenced by his style of painting.  Lang Shih-ning introduced Western techniques of modeling with light and shadow to traditional Chinese painting.  With bright and luxurious colors that capture the eye, Lang Shih-ning painted figures, flowers, birds, dogs and horses with equal skill and success.  A number of the Ching court's most important commemorative painting as well were produced under his direction.  As a missionary, Lang Shih-ning was greatly aided in his propagation of religious teachings by his proximity to Emperor Chien-lung, and his numerous contributions in this area should also be recognized.  Lang Shih-ning was born on the twenty-second day of the sixth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Kang-hsi reign (July 19, 1688); he died in Peking at the age of seventy-nine on the tenth day of the sixth month of the thirty-first year of the Chien-lung reign (July16, 1766).  After his death the Ching court awarded him the posthumous title of Vice Minister.