Physical description
The interior of a shop dealing in Chinese export goods, including ceramics, paintings and furniture, enlarged from a fan leaf, extended and mounted on panel; figures dressed in Persian and Chinese costumes; more shop in the background
Place of Origin
Holland (possibly, painted)
Date
1680-1700
Materials and Techniques
Gouache on paper, mounted onto a wooden panel
Dimensions
Height: 26.3 cm, Width: 43.6 cm, Height: 350 mm gilt frame, Width: 510 mm gilt frame, Depth: 40 mm gilt frame
Object history note
Given by Sir William Lawrence, Bt
Historical context note
This painting was originally the painted leaf of a fan, but was later adapted to become a small framed painting. The leaf was stuck down on a rectangular wooden panel, and the image was extended to the corners. The scene represents the interior of a Chinese shop. The display of a fantastic profusion of luxury goods including lacquers furniture, Chinese porcelain and redwares, Indian chintzes and Persian paintings as well as small ivory devotional sculptures, suggests that this shop is probably imaginary.
The depiction of female shoppers in a mix of Turkish or Persian costume further supports such interpretation. In addition this range of objects in different media suggests that the shop must be a European fantasy as these objects would not have been sold together in China for example. The accuracy with which the wares themselves are represented however implies that the artist was familiar with this kinds of objects.
The peculiar perspective which shows a distortion in the proportions in order to make visible a maximum of objects is reminiscent of Netherlandish paintings depicting collectors cabinets such as the ones developed by Frans Francken II (1581-1642) in the early 17th century. A thesis further supported by the fact that the painting seems to imitate other Dutch fans of the period. It has been therefore proposed that this painting may represent a loose depiction of an importer’s shop in a European centre such as Amsterdam.
Descriptive line
Painting, Fan-leaf interior of a Chinese shop, possibly Dutch School, ca. 1680-1700
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Export Lacquerware: Reflections of the West in Black and Gold Makie Osaka, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2008.
Exhibition catalogue
M. Snodin and N. Llewellyn eds, Baroque 1620 - 1800. Style in the Age of Magnificence London, 2009, cat.42, pl. 1.26
Exhibition catalogue
La Soie & le Cannon. France-Chine 1700-1860 Paris, 2010
Exhibition catalogue
A. Jackson and A. Jaffer, Encounters: the meeting of Asia and Europe, 1500-1800, London, 2004, exh cat, fig. 1.4
Exhibition History
Silk and Cannon 1700 - 1860 (Musee d'histoire de Nantes (Chateau des Ducs) 26/06/2010-07/11/2010)
Baroque 1620-1800 (Victoria and Albert Museum 04/04/2009-19/07/2009)
Export Lacquerware: Reflections of the West in Black and Gold Makie (The Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo 23/12/2008-26/01/2009)
Export Lacquerware: Reflections of the West in Black and Gold Makie (Kyoto National Museum 18/10/2008-07/12/2008)
Encounters The Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800 (Victoria and Albert Museum 23/09/2004-05/12/2004)
Materials
Paper; Gouache; Panel
Techniques
Painting
Subjects depicted
Furniture; Ceramics
Categories
Porcelain; Ceramics; Furniture; Vases; Shopping
Collection code
PDP
