A PAINTING OF A WHITE HAWK ATTRIBUTED TO XING YIFENG REPUBLICAN PERIOD, DATED 1935

ink and colour on silk, depicting a white hawk perched on a trestle stand, the bird of prey detailed with piercing eyes turning its head sharply to the right, a tasselled weight suspended to the folded wings, the plumage meticulously painted in fine strokes of light brown and white pigments with pale blue shades, the right talon bound to a trestle stand adorned with a triangular brocade falling over a silk apron embroided with phoenix, the trestle-feet carved with Buddhistic lions enfolding hexagonal posts topped with further metal lion mounts, inscribed in gilt on the upper right with a poem in standard script pertaining to the white hawk and referencing the work of Giuseppe Castiglione, signed Guiyan Xing Yifeng hua ('Painted by Xing Yifeng from Guyan'), dated to the yihai year, corresponding to 1935, with two seals Yifeng hua ('painted by Yifeng') and Xing shi Xuecun ('Xing [surname] Xuecun'), framed and glazed

The painting is in overall good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A painting of the same subject by the Jesuit court painter Louis de Poirot (He Qingtai, 1735-1814) was included in the exhibition Emperor Ch'ien-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2002, cat. no. IV-7. The original painting by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, 1688-1766) is in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, and was included in the museum's exhibition Lang Shining yu Qing gong xiyang feng/New Visions at the Ch’ing Court. Giuseppe Castiglione and Western-Style Trends, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2007, cat. no. 20.