Lot 326: Lai Fong of Calcutta (Chinese fl. 1890-1910)

The Malay in Chinese waters
signed and dated 'Lai Fong/Calcutta/18.6' (lower right)
oil on canvas
26 x 36 in. (66 x 91.5 cm.)

Lai Fong, a painter active between 1890 and 1910, emigrated from Hong Kong to Calcutta where he became a leading pier head painter. As a result of his position, Fong became renowned for the large number of ship portraits he produced during his career. Fong rarely featured coastal landscapes in his work preferring to render the ships on their ocean bound leg.