Album of paintings, c.1830 | Examination of a Mandarin and a decorated album cover

PROPERTY FROM THE GARRETT COLLECTION

CHINESE PAINTINGS

Album of paintings depicting the education and examinations for a mandarin, [Canton/Guangzhou?], c.1830

Oblong folio (247 x 365mm.), 12 gouache paintings on pith (approximately 185 x 310mm.), each mounted on paper and framed with a pale blue silk fabric border, contemporary patterned red silk boards, ?later green fabric ties, together with pink-papered upper and lower boards of a slipcase, some worming with small loss to paintings, covers and boards, occasional light spotting and wear

[Together with:] a nineteenth-century Chinese blue silk binding, the upper cover painted with a bird and butterfly surrounded by flowers

This series of fine paintings depicting the various examinations of a potential mandarin are similar to albums produced by the artist Guan Lianchang, known as Tingqua (Canton, active 1830s-70s) and may be from his studio.

PROVENANCE:

Purchased from Taikoo Books, July 1993