Studio of Tingqua, A pair of Chinese export landscape paintings, Qing dynasty, 19th century 清十九世紀 庭呱/關聯昌畫室 中國外銷風景畫一對

Tingqua, or Guan Lianchang, was one of the most prolific and sought after artists active in Guangzhou in the 19^th century. Although information on him is scattered, Tingqua was the son of the famous painted Guan Zuolin, better known in the West as Spoilum, and the younger brother of Lamqua, who was also renowned for his painting skills. Tingqua’s works were introduced to the United States by the American merchant, Augustine Heard, who brought back from China an important collection of paintings by Tingqua. These are now housed in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts,

庭呱本名關聯昌，十九世紀活躍於廣州，不僅畫作甚豐，且備受青睞，其生平已佚，但可確認他是著名畫家關作霖之子，關氏在西方被稱為史貝霖；琳呱為其兄，亦為出色的畫師。美國商人歐德將一重要庭呱畫作收藏從中國帶回家鄉，庭呱作品因而傳入美國。藏品現存於麻薩諸塞州塞勒姆市皮博迪埃塞克斯博物館，當中另有三本圖冊類於本作，傳作於1830年，出自其他中國畫工筆下。