Artists

CHINESE SCHOOL (18th Century )

Medium

Gouache on Silk

Dimensions:

32.50inch wide   24.00inch high (82.55 cm wide  60.96 cm high)

Literature

Patrick Conner, ‘The Hongs of Canton – Western Merchants in South China 1700-1900, as seen in Chinese export paintings’, published by English Art Books, 2009, pages 42 and 43, plates 2.17 & 2.18

Condition

Remarkable for its age. It has been conserved in the past and the silk has been placed on an acid free loom. This work has been carried out to a very high standard.

Description / Expertise

It is thought that this fascinating work originally formed part of a scroll which extended in both directions illustrating the length of the Pearl River, as discussed in Dr. Patrick Conner’s book ‘The Hongs of Canton – Western Merchants in South China 1700-1900, as seen in Chinese export paintings’.
This fascinating watercolour and bodycolour painting on silk has an ethereal quality much in the vein of James McNeil Whistler and on the rare occasions that it has been seen, it has caused great interest. Indeed eighteen months ago the British Antique Dealer’s Fair organisers invited me to display a small China trade exhibition on my stand and in 2009 the vetters declared it the ‘Picture of the Fair’.
Framed in a wide Dutch black lacquer-style frame with an inner gilded slip and UV museum quality glass.