China Trade Portrait in the manner of Spoilum
£6,500
A rare China Trade portrait in the manner of Spoilum, depicting a European lady within an oval, probably either a merchant’s or sea-captain’s wife (her frock, with elaborate frogging, hints at a naval connection), shown holding a rose and a book with elaborate silver clasp, her dress with collar or fichu of Chinese(?) embroidery.
Oil on canvas (re-lined) with original 18th century ebonised softwood frame with carved gilt-wood slip
Height 86 cm (34 inches)
Width 66 cm (26 inches)
circa 1785
Guan Zolin, better known as Spoilum (active 1765-1805) was a Chinese artist working in Guangzhou Province specialising in portraits in the Western style of Chinese and visiting European dignitaries, sea-captains, merchants, and their families
