CIRCA 1740

The scene copies a print by C.J. Visscher de Jonge, a Dutch engraver, who based his design on a drawing by Abraham Bloemaert (1564-1651). See D.S. Lunsingh Scheurleer, op.cit., 1974, fig. 207 for an illustration of this print, together with two plates with this design as figs.206 and 298. This scene is found in famille rose enamels, en camaeu rose and as in the present lot, en grisaille, and in each case with a variety of borders. See David S. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, 1994, no.67, pp.82 and 83 for an enamelled version with the same border as on this plate, where the author explains "After the initial, possibly V.O.C. order, variations would have been available to private merchants in Canton, probably with less expensive borders". A very similar plate to the present lot is in the Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels, exhibited Hong Kong, 1989/90, no.44, together with an enamelled version as no.43. Others are illustrated by F. and N. Hervout and Y. Bruneau, op.cit., 1986, colour pl.3.8 and figs. 3.9 and 3.10.