A pair of Chinese Export reverse glass pictures

Chinese, circa 1775

A rare sized pair of Chinese Export reverse glass paintings depicting a man and a women in traditional

dress; the pictures retaining their original frames.

This is a very appealing and increasingly rare pair of Chinese export reverse glass paintings.

What makes them particularly engaging is their intimate scale combined with fine quality.

Small reverse glass paintings of this refinement were never casual productions. They were made as

luxury objects, intended for close viewing in refined interiors such as dressing rooms, cabinets or

private studies. Their size encourages a more personal encounter, where the delicacy of the

brushwork and the subtlety of the colouring can really be appreciated.

The subjects depict a gentleman and lady in landscaped settings, rendered in the sophisticated hybrid

style that defined the best Chinese export glass painting of the late eighteenth century. The figures

show a clear understanding of Western portrait conventions in pose and composition yet are

interpreted through a Chinese painter’s hand. This dialogue between cultures is one of the most

compelling aspects of high-quality export works.

Both figures are shown in refined and carefully observed dress, clearly signalling wealth and social

standing. The gentleman wears a long robe in warm tones with contrasting blue garments beneath,

completed with a formal hat. His costume is associated with leisure, reinforcing the impression of a

cultivated and prosperous figure. The lady is depicted in an elegant robe with flowing sleeves and

layered textiles, enriched with subtle patterning and complemented by a fan, itself a sign of

refinement and polite society. Her coiffure and headdress are carefully arranged, underscoring her

affluence and awareness of fashion.

The quality of the painting is immediately apparent. The faces are finely modelled with sensitive

expressions, the costumes are crisply articulated, and the landscapes are softly handled to create

depth and atmosphere without overpowering the figures. Reverse glass painting is an unforgiving

medium, requiring the artist to work in reverse order, and the confidence seen here points to an

experienced workshop producing for an elite export market.

Equally important is the survival of the original frames, which is increasingly uncommon. These

frames were made specifically for the paintings and form part of the original object as it would have

appeared in an eighteenth-century European interior.

This pair offers everything one looks for in Chinese export reverse glass paintings. Authenticity, fine

condition, original frames, and above all exceptional quality on a charming, jewel like scale. They are

works that reward close looking and sit beautifully in a sophisticated collection, whether displayed as

a pair or as part of a broader group.