WATERFRONT VIEW OF THE FOREIGN HONGS (FACTORIES) AT CANTON (GUANGZHOU) circa 1803

Oil on Canvas
A view of seven Western factories from the Pearl River, each identifiable by its raised flag; Danish, Spanish, French Tricolor, United States, Swedish, British and Dutch.

John Frederick Lewis (1791-1858), Philadelphia, and thence by descent.

Jean Gordeon Lee, Philadelphians and the China Trade 1784-1844, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1984, cat, no. 175.

A label on the back of the paintings reads, " Hannah Mae Harrer, Restorer, Philadelphia, 2/4/27, rebacked, cleaned and varnished." Since 1927 the varnish has yellowed and the expected craquelure remains. There are discolored areas of restoration including a U-form section above the Union Jack flag, an area in front of the French factory and another to the left of the French flag pole. There is wear and thinning of pigments- particularly the green of the trees, and the white sections of the water. Please note that this painting has not been examined out of the frame or glass.
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.

Well documented descriptions of buildings and historical events make it possible to date the present painting with reasonable precision. The American flag was first hoisted over the skyline of Guangzhou in 1799. The Union Jack with the red saltire of St Patrick  was added in 1801. The French tricolor, was first flown in January 1803, but taken down on the death of Jean Baptiste Piron, French supercargo and ‘Agent to the Republic’, in October 1804. Previously, French flags were either the white Bourbon flag that predated the Revolution, or a transitional flag seen in the early 1790s. After 1804 the tricolor did not reappear on the Guangzhou waterfront until the 1830s. Other nearly identical versions of this painting are known; see Carl L. Crossman, The China Trade, Suffolk, England, 1991, illus. no. 6, p. 425 for an example attributed to the circle of Guan Zuolin known in the West as Spoilum, in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts; Patrick Conner, The Hongs of Canton, 2009, illus. 2.26, p. 52 and China Observed, Historical Pictures by Chinese and Western Artists (1750-1970),  Martyn Gregory, London, 2015-16, no. 80, pp. 76-77. Another version of the painting, described as 'School of Spoilum' and dated to 1800-1803 was sold in these rooms,  27th March 2003, lot 89.

Two generations of the Lewis family were active in the China Trade.  John Frederick Lewis (1791-1858) partnered with Silas E. Weir investing very successfully in the importation of silk, matting and tea. Upon Weir's death in 1828, Lewis continued on his own bringing his sons into the business with him at least two of whom traveled to Canton as supercargo on the firm's behalf.