VIEW OF THE PRAYA GRANDE, MACAU QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1850

Chinese School, oil on canvas, the painting depicting the view from south to north, with the Fortaleza do Monte in the center, St. Paul's Church, the Palacio and the East India Company headquarters, further right on the highest point is the Guia Fortress, the tranquil bay with trading and fishing vessels plying the shallow waters of the bay, framed

The picture has been recently cleaned and is in good overall condition. The surface has been somewhat pressed and flattened by re-lining. There is a stable web of characteristic craquelure , under UV light, the aforementioned craquelure has been retouched with fine lines of in-painting. Stretcher bar marks are visible at all four edges. Some slightly larger areas of retouching are visible throughout the sky.
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.

Macau was the oldest European settlement in China, leased to the Portuguese by the Ming emperor Jiajing (r. 1522-1567) in 1557. The Praya Grande was the principal waterfront promenade and its distinctive curving shoreline, with is dense rows of Western-style buildings, was among the most popularly depicted port views. The present vantage point is rare as most artists recorded the view of the harbor from north to south.