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Hello all. I have an antique oil painting that I believe is of a European Mission in China somewhere in the early 1900's. There is Asian writing on the left side and I have no idea what it says. Can anyone translate this for me so I might have an idea what this place is or was??

I know they are faded from age, but this is a pretty old painting.

Thank You VERY much!

Doug

I have found out that this is a painting of a Catholic Church somewhere in Korea. I am not sure if it still exists today. Apparently there is a reference to Incheon.
Still trying to identify the artist though?

Translation of the Chinese words: (from left to right)

The way the Chinese characters were written on this oil painting is interesting because it is from left to right and this is a modern way of writing it. In older time, they should be written from right to left. Therefore this painting may be painted within the last sixty years. (Are there any signatures of the artist on the back of the painting?)

The first two words are Ren Chuan (if I am not mistaken) because the words are in purple and therefore very difficult to read.

Next three words: Catholic.

Next two words (I cannot see the first word very well): Church

Since a catholic church is a cathedral, therefore I was searching for a cathedral called Ren Chuan in Chinese. However I couldn�t find the name of such cathedral in China but I did find that Ren Chuan is the name of the second largest city (behind Seoul) in South Korea:
Incheon or Inchon.

Therefore, I was looking for the Incheon (or Inchon) Cathedral in South Korea. However, although I did find reference for Incheon Cathedral, I couldn�t pinpoint its exact location or its pictures.

I then studied the Catholic dioceses in Korea and found the following references:

http://www.katolsk.no/utenriks/kronologi/korea.htm
Ichon was separated from Seoul and became an independent Catholic diocese in 1961.

Another source says it became a diocese in 1962:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Incheon

Since I had gone to a Catholic school for six years and had to say Hail Mary every day I did know a little bit about Catholic Church and the big difference is that there is usually only one cathedral in each diocese and if you are Catholic you will go to the cathedral in your diocese. It is quite different than the Protestant Churches in which there are so many different churches of different denominations one can choose which one to go to.

Therefore I was checking which cathedral was in Inchon and found that the Dapdong Cathedral was built in Inchon since 1897 (one source said 1890). I was also lucky to find a picture of the Dapdong Cathedral and will post it here for comparison. For some reasons, it is very difficult to find any pictures for any Catholic Cathedrals in Korea. I do not know if the Korean government forbids the posting of pictures of any famous buildings in the fear of their being used by the North Korea as targets for their attacks. Most pictures available are either very small or were posted by tourists. There are no pictures of any pictures being posted in any official Catholic diocese sites.

For more pictures of the Dapdong Cathedral:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68558939@N00/1285173017/in/set-72157601786904303/
Dapdong Cathedral
Founded by Father Joseph Wilhelm of the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 1897. The Romanesque cathedral was designed by Father Eugene Coste, although expansion work in 1937 was designed by Father Pierre Chizallet. Dapdong Cathedral is one of Korea's oldest Catholic churches, and certainly one of its most beautiful.

Conclusion

I compare the picture of the photo of the Dapdong Cathedral with the oil painting of the Inchon Cathedral and find there are very good resemblance between the two. It is possible that the oil painting was indeed painted long time ago, may be even before the division of Korea into North and South, therefore the name of the cathedral at that time can be different and after so many years, the outside feature of the cathedral and its surrounding can also be vastly altered. I will let the forum members decide if this indeed the same cathedral.

This is not a easy one to crack and I am only 85% confidence in being correct. May be some other forum members know more about Catholic cathedrals can make some comments.

Bill

First of all thank you VERY MUCH Bill! I am very grateful for your effort in this. :)
The Cathedral does indeed look right to me although from a different angle. I wonder if it is possible that the characters were added at a later date than the actual time that this was painted?
I am honored to have such a unique painting. Apparently it came from San Francisco California U.S.A. at some point since there is a framing stamp on the back with a gum label that says San Francisco /Paris on it. I live in Redding California which is 200 miles north of San Fran which makes sense how it ended up here eventually.
I am very curious how it made it's way here all the way from Korea and suppose I will never really know, but the mystery is unraveling thanks to your kind help! :)

Best Regards and heartfelt thanks..

Doug Colosio

Bill, I do apologize.. this is signed with initials and I didn't post them before, also there is a gum stamp from the frame shop that may help date this a bit. Gosh, even though this in no Van Gogh, it is very cool to have a painting that is this original! :)

Your friend Doug C

Here is a photo taken by one of my shipmates 1951 or 1952 when our ship (USS Rupertus DD851) went to Inchon for the first peace talks. Being a catholic myself and seeing this church behind my shipmates I worried if it would survive the war. Thank God it did!!!

Sorry I sent you the wrong photo.

MA Banuelos

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