Lot 793: NAMCHEONG (CHINESE, ACT. 1840-1870). RARE SET OF

NAMCHEONG (CHINESE, ACT. 1840-1870). RARE SET OF ELEVEN SCENIC VIEWS OF MAINLAND CHINA AND THE ENVIRONS OF CANTON ALONG THE PEARL RIVER, PAINTED FOR THE WESTERN MARKET. A highly unusual and interesting set of paintings, Namcheong did several landscape views around Canton and Whampoa Anchorage, all with his distinctive skies and coloring. He was also known for his ship paintings done on commission for foreign traders, perhaps the finest examples of which are the group painted for Russell & Co., now in the collection of the Nantucket Athenaeum.Including the Great Wall near Bejing; the Nine-Stage Pagoda at Whampoa; the Arched Bridge, probably at Suzhou; a Chinese tomb; junks near Whampoa; a bridge and tree near Canton; a bridge to the North with mountains; and other river views. Each oil on canvas, nine 20 x 15 inches, one 16 x 24 inches, one 18 x 23 inches. In original Chinese carved and gilded frames.

Provenance: Collection of Viscount Lymington, eldest son of the Earl of Portsmouth, of Hurstbourne Park, Suffolk, England; Symons Galleries, New York; Frank V. Gill; to the present owner.

Literature: For an extensive discussion of the artist and illustrations of his work, see Crossman, pp. 138-48.