A CHINESE SCHOOL 19TH CENTURY PAINTING 'CONVENTION OF PEKING'

Watercolor, gouache and ink on paper, with a paper mount and wooden end bars
China, around 1860

This painting shows an interesting subject of historical significance, the Convention of Peking. We see Manchu soldiers as well as British soldiers, parading left and right of two tables where high ranked officials have taken a seat. Military bands and servants are in the foreground.

The Convention or First Convention of Peking is an agreement comprising three distinct treaties concluded between the Qing dynasty of China and the United Kingdom, French Empire, and Russian Empire in 1860. In China, they are regarded as among the unequal treaties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China keeps the original copy of the Convention in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

Shape: Rectangular horizontal shape
Dimensions: 126 x 66 cm (total size), 108 x 60 (size of the painting)
Condition: Age-related condition, tears, creases and minor material loss with few touchups
Provenance: Austrian private collection

Literature comparison: for a comparable, yet much smaller version see Sotheby's, JEWELLERY, 20TH CENTURY DESIGN AND ASIAN & EUROPEAN DECORATIVE ARTS, 22 NOVEMBER 2006 - 23 NOVEMBER 2006, MELBOURNE, lot 514.

中國十九世紀《北京條約》
水彩，紙本設色，紙本木托裝幀
中國，1860年前後

這幅畫顯示了一個有歷史意義的主題，即北京條約。 我們看到滿族士兵和英國士兵，站立在高層官員所坐的桌子的兩旁。 軍團和僕人在畫面前方。

“條約â€或“北京第一條約â€是1860年中國大清朝廷與英法俄三國各自簽訂的戰敗條約。在中國，此條約被視為不平等條約之一。中華民國外交部將該條約原件保存在台灣故宮博物院內。

長方形
尺寸：126 x 66 cm (含裝裱), 108 x 60 cm (畫面)
品相與年代相符，有水跡、摺痕和材料缺失
奧地利私人收藏
文獻參考：一件類似但尺寸要小些的畫作可見蘇富比《珠寶、二十世紀設計與亞洲及歐洲裝飾藝術》，2006年11月22-23日，墨爾本，514號拍品。