The Great Wall of China

Wood served in the 31st Regiment in China during the Second Opium War and was awarded the Second China Medal for his part in taking the Taku Forts. He is also known from his drawings taken on the China expedition, including views taken on his visit to the Great Wall in December 1861 (see for example the drawing with Martyn Gregory, 2003, cat.79, no.53). An oil of a Shanghai subject was given to Wood in 1986 (Martyn Gregory, 1986, cat.43, no.146) but is probably a Chinese copy of his drawing (cat.43, no.147). A number of his subjects appear to have been copied in oils by Chinese artists; see for example the Chinese School oils of the Great Wall with Martyn Gregory, 1987, cat.47, no.49 and 1993, cat.61, no.93. The present composition by Wood exists in several versions, two with the Canton and Hong Kong artist Youqua's trade label, for which see Christie's, London, 15 Dec. 2016, lot 34, previously with Martyn Gregory in 1987 (cat.47, no.48) and 2002 (cat.78, no.111), and another now in the Sze Yuan Tang Collection (the Hardy Collection). These latter two pictures by Youqua are both slightly larger than the present canvas but appear to be by the same hand, suggesting that, in spite of the inscription on the label on the reverse, this is in fact a painting by Youqua after a drawing by Wood.