A VIEW OF THE HONGS AT CANTON, QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1820 | The Concession at Canton with Junks at Anchor Offshore

oil on canvas, depicting a panorama of the waterfront at Canton, with the European-style factories of the Spanish, American, British and Dutch, each flying their respective flags, the foreground with sampans, junks, skiffs and a small white sailing boat flying the Union Jack, all moored in the placid waters of the Pearl River, gilt-wood frame

Berry Hill Galleries, New York (stamped on frame).
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, and thence by descent.

The painting has been cleaned and relined. There is craquelure to the surface which has been consolidated and inpainted in areas. There is some restoration to areas of loss in the sky. Please note that the painting has not been examined out of its frame.
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 rapid pace of development along the Canton waterfront signals the city's economic and cultural significance to the Western communities residing there. Its changing outline was well chronicled and captured by both Western and Chinese artists. This wealth of documentation provides the means to place the present painting within a specific time frame. The painting depicts features that place it after 1815 when the powerful East India Trade Company paid to update their facades as seen in the columned balcony, large windows along the upper story and pediment roof but before the devastation of the 'Great Fire' of 1822. Winds carried the flames from a small bakery a mile and half away and within 36 hours had left the waterfront in ruins. For further reading on this topic see Patrick Conner, The Hongs of Canton, London, 2009, p. 73 and pp 89-103. A painting nearly identical to the present in the Sze Yuan Tang Collection is illustrated in Patrick Conner, Paintings of the China trade, The Sze Yuan Tang Collection of Historic Paintings, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Hong Kong, 2013, pl. 2, and again in op.cit. pl. 2.42. Two closely related views were sold in these rooms, the first of the same hongs but a slightly earlier view, January 22, 2016, lot 1153 and the second painting of the same view as the present example but painted on copper from from the Elinor Gordon Collection, January 23, 2010, lot 54.