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.