Page 65 - Christie's London China Trade Paintings Kelton Collection

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LAMQUA (FL.1820-1860)
Portrait of a Man wearing a blue smock, holding a string of beads (thought to be a self portrait)
oil on canvas
9Ω x 8ºin. (24.1 x 20.9cm.)
£8,000-12,000 US$9,900-15,000
€9,100-14,000
PROVENANCE:
The family of Andrew Johnstone, partner in Jardine Matheson in 1835-36, and thence by descent; Sotheby’s, London, 21 May 1997, lot 51.
Probably a self portrait by Lamqua, the Chinese artist who had a studio as early as 1819-20 in New China Street, Canton selling
'paintings, ships, likenesses'. Lamqua (Guan Qiachang) is now thought to be the son of Spoilum (Kwan Zuolum) and elder brother of
Tingqua (Guan Lianchang), the three constituting the leading dynasty of export artists at Canton between 1780 and 1860. He is young
in this portrait, but already the heavily built fgure that will be remarked on when he is in his early 40s: 'he is very fat and no one could
imagine on looking at him, that he possessed a spark of genius, though he has in reality a great deal.' (Rebecca Kinsman Monroe,
1843). He may have studied with Chinnery and he closely follows the English artist's format for his portraits and views of the factories
at Canton. For his life and work, see P. Conner, 'Lamqua Western and Chinese Painter' in Arts of Asia, March-April 1999, pp.47-64).

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