CHINESE SCHOOL QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1800 THE TRIBUTE PROCESSION AND THE FUNERAL PROCESSION, AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT PAINTINGS

The first depicting a long procession on the outskirts of Guangzhou (Canton), the bearers carrying various items such as a statue of a seated deity in a palanquin, a small tree, and bronze and porcelain ritual vessels, winding their way up to a hilltop building amidst an extensive landscape; the second similarly depicting a procession with musicians, a draped sedan chair and the draped bier, both within 19th century English Regency giltwood frames (2)

W. E. Brown & Co., Atlanta (until the 1930s).
Thereafter with the family of the present owners.

both laid down on masonite, the original stretchers attached to the back; craquelure throughout, stretcher bar marks, under UV light the Tribute Procession with possible strengthening to edges of clouds, a few small scattered spots of inpaint to the sky, small spot of inpaint above heads of second line of figures; Funeral procession with a few small scattered spots of inpainting in sky, thin horizontal line of inpaint (1-3mm wide) about 7 1/2 inches long, running across mountain peak; the illustrations in the printed catalogue show the works before the tribute procession was cleaned and excessive overpainting was removed from the sky of the funeral procession, the online images show the works as they now appear
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present works relate to a distinct group of well-painted oils executed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Canton, depicting various scenes of Chinese life using European pictorial conventions, such as aerial and linear perspective and chiaroscuro, to convey depth, particularly in depicting mountains and buildings. While perhaps based on English conventions of the period, the ultimate source is likely to be Dutch and Italianate landscapes of the 17th century, where small figures are disposed throughout a landscape utilizing receding diagonals framed by trees, architecture or natural features, to imply depth and movement.

The best known works of this group are the scenes depicting the production of various commodities, such as tea, porcelain and silk. A fine example depicting the production of porcelain, in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, is illustrated in Picturing Cathay, Maritime and Cultural Images of the China Trade, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 84, p. 144. The present subjects are more unusual, but are related in that they illustrate Chinese life with apparent fidelity to costume, accessories and architecture and would have been of great interest to the West as a window into the mysterious land of silk and tea.  The 'Tribute Procession' is of especial interest in this regard, as Dr. William Sargent has noted that the painting depicts the five-story watch tower and part of the city wall of Guangzhou (Canton) on the horizon, placing this work even more securely in a credible place.