FDA-D.81-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-D.81-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Tien-kang, Son of the Captain of a Junk on which the Artist Travelled up the Pei-ho River
Study of a young chinaman
Whiteley
Study of a young chinaman
Whiteley
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Previous title
collection
Previous title
collection
Other number
MFW 2
Description
Content (note)
Three-quarter-length, with his arms crossed
Dimensions
height: 383mm
width: 231mm
width: 231mm
Inscription description
Signed with initials 'W.A.' (lower left) and inscribed 'Tien-kang' and with Chinese characters (upper right), and inscribed 'Portrait of TienKiang son to the Captain of our Junk/Pay-ho, Augt. 15 1793' (on the reverse)
Materials & techniques note
pencil and watercolour
Production
Person
Alexander, William, 1767 - 1816 (Artist)
Date
Aug 15 1793
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Collection of George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney; collection of a private collector; by whom sold through Sotheby's, 1 April 1976; by whom purchased by Martin Whiteley; by whom bequeathed to Eton College
Previous ownership
Whiteley, Martin F, 1930 - 1984: Purchased by Martin Whiteley in 1976 and bequeathed by him to Eton in 1984
Macartney, George, 1st Earl Macartney (1st Earl Macartney), 1737 - 1806: This portrait was said to have come from an album originally in the possession of Lord Macartney, British Ambassador to China; it was subsequently acquired by a private collector c. 1930; his sale Sotheby's 1st April 1976. Another version of similar size was sold at Sotherby's, 20 November 1986 (lot 92)
Macartney, George, 1st Earl Macartney (1st Earl Macartney), 1737 - 1806: This portrait was said to have come from an album originally in the possession of Lord Macartney, British Ambassador to China; it was subsequently acquired by a private collector c. 1930; his sale Sotheby's 1st April 1976. Another version of similar size was sold at Sotherby's, 20 November 1986 (lot 92)
References
• Wilcox, T., A Genius for Watercolour; Watercolours from the Eton College Collection, Christie's exhibition catalogue, London, 2003 (pp. 60-61, no. 51)
• Ryan, H., Hidden Treasures, W.S. Fine Art exhibition catalogue, 2010 (pp. 38-39, no. 14)
• Ryan, H., Hidden Treasures, W.S. Fine Art exhibition catalogue, 2010 (pp. 38-39, no. 14)
