Portrait of a Man wearing a blue smock, holding a string of beads (thought to be a self portrait)

Probably a self portrait by Lamqua, the Chinese artist who had a studio as early as 1819-20 in New China Street, Canton selling 'paintings, ships, likenesses'. Lamqua (Guan Qiachang) is now thought to be the son of Spoilum (Kwan Zuolum) and elder brother of Tingqua (Guan Lianchang), the three constituting the leading dynasty of export artists at Canton between 1780 and 1860. He is young in this portrait, but already the heavily built figure that will be remarked on when he is in his early 40s: 'he is very fat and no one could imagine on looking at him, that he possessed a spark of genius, though he has in reality a great deal.' (Rebecca Kinsman Monroe, 1843). He may have studied with Chinnery and he closely follows the English artist's format for his portraits and views of the factories at Canton. For his life and work, see P. Conner, 'Lamqua Western and Chinese Painter' in Arts of Asia, March-April 1999, pp.47-64).