Portrait of an American Merchant, wearing a blue coat and white stock with cameo

For similar portraits of American and European merchants by Spoilum, see C.L. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, 1991, pp.45-8. The plain garb of the sitter compares with the dress of the Massachusetts merchants (Crossman, op. cit., plates 11 and 12, and see also Martyn Gregory Gallery, China Trade Paintings, Catalogue 30, 1982, no.141) and the cameo is similar to one worn by the British East India Company sitter in Spoilum's portrait illustrated in Crossman, p.45, plate 10.

Spoilum was the first Chinese artist to work in oils in Canton, and is known primarily as a portrait painter working for the western market. In 1803 the artist would produce a finished portrait at a two hour sitting, charging $10, the same price as for a port view or painting on glass.