TINGQUA (1809-c.1870, ATTRIBUTED TO) AN ALBUM OF FIGURES

ink on paper, an album of one hundred and twenty leaves depicting figures of various professions, including tea production, artisans at work and street sellers with their wares

This album appears to have been painted in the studio of Tingqua, one of the most prolific and sought after artists active in Guangzhou in the 19^th century. Although information on him is scattered, Tingqua was the son of the famous painted Guan Zuolin, better known in the West as Spoilum, and the younger brother of Lamqua, who was also renowned for his painting skills. Tingqua’s works were introduced to the United States by the American merchant, Augustine Heard, who brought back from China an important collection of paintings by Tingqua. These are now housed in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, and include four albums donated by the estate of John Heard, similarly painted with Chinese professions, accession number E21010.1-480.