A VIEW OF TWO HOUSES ON THE BUND, SHANGHAI, STUDIO OF CHOW KWA, QING DYNASTY, MID-19TH CENTURY | A View of Two Houses in Shanghai

oil on canvas, a finely detailed and spacious rendering of two European trading houses, separated by a large expanse of lush green lawn dotted with a pair of grazing sheep, an ornamental water fountain, and a trellised gazebo, with further houses in the background, the foreground with two porters strolling along walled and gated road, gilt-wood frame, Chow Kwa (fl. 1850-1880) studio label on the back of the frame

Child's Gallery, Boston (inscribed on frame).
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, and thence by descent. 

The painting has been cleaned and relined. There are a few restored tears the longest a T-form repair in the sky above the two chimneys approx. 3 inches. There has been some retouching to minor scattered losses. Please note that this painting was not examined outside 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 present painting bears the studio label on the back which gives both the westernized name Chow Kwa as well as the Chinese name Su Zhaocheng to identify the artist. Chow Kwa's refined painting style, technical ability and panoramic compositions earned him both high regard and success among collectors of the genre.  The artist's skillful handling of light, particularly as it interacts with clouds and water, is one of many traits that distinguish his work.    A closely related painting of a house on the Bund ascribed to Chow Kwa 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. 39. A panoramic view of the Bund of larger dimension from the Albright Knox Collection was sold in these rooms, March 19, 2007, lot 365.