Page 117 - Sotheby's London Important Chinese Art Nov. 2019
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PROPERTY FROM A SWISS PRIVATE COLLECTION The view of the Praya Grande in Macao In 1842, Xiamen (once known as Amoy)
A SET OF FOUR CHINA TRADE showcases some of the most iconic buildings became one of the five Treaty Ports opened
PAINTINGS of the time, some of which are still visible to British trade. The present view is from
QING DYNASTY, CA. 1880 today. In the background on the right are the island of Gulangyu, or Kulangsu, now
visible St. Anthony’s church and the façade a pedestrian-only island which was then a
oil on canvas, depicting the ports of Hong of St. Paul, built in 1582. The façade is what foreign enclave. Amoy junks (with an eye
Kong, Macao, Canton and Amoy (Xiamen), remains of the church, destroyed in a fire in painted on the bow) are visible, as well as
framed 1835. The fortified castle Fortaleza do Monte, English and French ships. The residences fly
(4) built in 1617 by the Portuguese, dominates the French, Dutch, and Portuguese flags.
each 45 by 78 cm, 17 ¾ by 30½ in. harbour atop the hill to the right, while Penha
and its church are visible on the hill to the left. ‡ £ 40,000-60,000
PROVENANCE HK$ 391,000-590,000 US$ 50,000-75,000
Situated at the mouth of the Pearl River,
Paul Mason Gallery, London. Canton (now Guangzhou) had long been a 清 約1880年
Purchased from the above at the Grosvenor flourishing trade city, being the central focus
House Antiques Fair, London, in 1987. of China and the west under the Canton 《香港》、《澳門》、《廣州》
Following the First Opium War, Hong Kong system, up until the First Opium War. Fires 及《廈門》外銷油畫一組四幅
was formally ceded to the British in 1842 broke out in 1743, 1822, 1841 and 1856, after
under the Treaty of Nanking. The present which the hongs were not rebuilt, as visible in 來源
work demonstrates the settlement’s the present work. The view shows the Chinese Paul Mason Gallery,倫敦
subsequent development into a thriving Godowns with the city wall in the background, 於1987年購自格羅夫納古董博覽會,倫敦
port. A flag tower is visible on the top of the and an English paddle steamer, junks,
highest hill to the right known as Victoria sampans and a marine policy junk.
Peak (installed in 1861). Visible in the harbour
are British, French, American, and Dutch
shipping, together with a 3-masted P&O ship
and a 3-masted barque owned by Jardine,
Matheson & Co.
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