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Subject:19th Cent. Chinese Oil Painting
Posted By: Lawrence Lewis Sat, Apr 21, 2018 IP: 196.54.41.56
This is an oil on canvas portrait I acquired from the family of the sitter a few years ago.

As far as I know, the portrait was done in China, probably Hong Kong or Canton and brought to British Columbia (Gum San) with the family. The painting is quite large, almost life size.
I was told the painting was done in 1891 when the sitter was 51 years of age, but that is about all I know.

Any additional information or comments welcomed!

Thanks

Larry







Subject:Re: 19th Cent. Chinese Oil Painting
Posted By: I.Nagy Sun, Apr 22, 2018
Inscription reads,
特逢夏五閏月影於徴
涼閣時年五十有一
光緒乙未歳
Painted at a special occassion in the summer leap month of May at the Wei Pavilion in the age of 51
Guangxu Era in the Year of Wood-Sheep (1895)

With regards,
I,Nagy

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Subject:Re: 19th Cent. Chinese Oil Painting
Posted By: Lawrence Lewis Mon, Apr 23, 2018
Thank you once again for your help Mr. Nagy

Larry

Subject:A photography?
Posted By: Super Mon, Apr 23, 2018
I just wonder if this is truly an oil painting or it is a photograph (that was being turned into a color picture from a original black and white picture)

The reason I am saying that is because on its inscription"
"特逢夏五閏月影於徴
涼閣時年五十有一
光緒乙未歳"

The seventh Chinese character 影 usually means taking a picture (photo, image) like in 影相 (photography) and is therefore different than painting or drawing.

As early as 1850, photographing was readily available in China and probably more common in Hong Kong which was a British colony. The original photography was probably taken in black and white and then being colored by hand. I vividly remember when my Dad opened his studio in Hong Kong during the 60s, color photoes were still not available and black and white picture were being colored by hand by one of the photographers who worked for my Dad. It sometime took hours or even days to color a photo. I wish I still have some of them today because they are truly works of arts. The name of this picture (photo) being taken is probably 徴涼閣 as stated in the inscription.

I wonder when you said "sitter" you meant the person in the picture? Apparently, this person must have spent quite a lot of money in making this portrait (photo).

Please double check the surface of this portrait and let me know if it is indeed an oil painting or possibly a photo? Thanks.

Super

You can see some of the old colorized photos here:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/177962622747142376/

like these two:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/493496071647958549
https://retro-vintage-photography.blogspot.com/2013/08/chinese-woman-19th-century.html

Subject:Re: A photography?
Posted By: Lawrence Lewis Tue, Apr 24, 2018
Well, the likeness is indeed akin to a photograph, however, I think that is due to the skill of the painter, rather than any camera!


I'm an art restorer and have examined the painting very closely, even restoring some small areas. There is no photographic image under the pigment, just a normal foundation of gesso.

Shortly after restoration, the painting was shown to the public, hanging for several months as part of an exhibition of western style Chinese painting at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, home of one of North America's leading oriental collections.

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