Bonhams 1793 : Style of Giuseppe Castiglione Probably 18th century

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8 Nov 2012 10:00 GMT London, New Bond Street
Fine Chinese Art
Back to auction 20024

Style of Giuseppe Castiglione

Probably 18th century
Ink and colour on paper, depicting a seated half-naked man under a tree with a suffering expression and holding a fierce beast on a chain, all in a gloomy setting, mounted as a hanging scroll, four seals. 133.5cm x 70.2cm (27¾in x 52½in)

Estimate:

£8,000 - 12,000
HK$ 97,000 - 150,000
CNY 77,000 - 110,000

Footnotes

或十八世紀郎世寧風格人獸圖設色紙本立軸

款識：臣朗世寧恭繪
鈴印：乾隆御覽之寶、乾隆宮鑑藏寶、宜子孫、石渠定鑑

The painting bears the signature of Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766) but is more likely to be the work of one of Castiglione's Chinese students in the Qianlong/Yongzheng court, with the seals probably added later.

The subject matter appears to be Christian, which would be unusual for a Court painter, but again suggests the possibility of a connection with the Jesuits at the Imperial court. Another possible explanation may be that it was produced by a Chinese artist working in Macao in the 18th century. The obvious association is with the Catholic Saint Jerome, often portrayed with his tame lion, but there is no published record that Castiglione ever painted this well-known Catholic religious subject.