Set of four oil paintings on canvas mounted on gilded wooden hand-crafted frames representing port and genre scenes from the Pearl River Delta region.

"Junks in the front of Pearl Island", two views " The entrance to a temple by the water" and " Blacksmith scene"..On the back of one canvas stretcher is old inscription in Cantonese" Nan" ( in Chinese "Nam" ( in English: south) and then an unidentified hieroglyph.

Nam Cheong is one of the few identified Chinese business artists for Europe. In the middle of the 19th century, this artist probably had a studio in Whampoa, Hong Kong and rarely signed his works. This 4 paintings can be attributed to him or to a member of his workshop. It is executed on the typical thin canvas and in nearly original condition and without extensive crackle.

Indeed, many of his paintings depict the Whampoa pagoda and its region. Prices for his paintings on the international art market reach 8,000 euros.

Between genre scenes and marine, these four paintings with picturesque scenery thus work as a cycle in which Namcheong pays tribute to these workers. Painstakingly painted, the small format of these works favors a certain intimacy, and the golden paint encircling their oval format add preciousness and ornament to these paintings.

Literature: " Ship portrait artists", Karsten Buchholz, Hamburg, 1997 ( in English); in online under title Nam Cheong: www.marcmaison.com; www.fineartemporium.com ; www.http://www.blueworldwebmuseum.org; date base artprice.com and artnet.com.

Inscription: all 4 unsigned, on reverse of one stretcher- old in inscription in Cantonese.

Technique: each : oil on canvas, three of them are closed at the back with wooden covers; Magnificent original period hand-crafted and gilded wooden frames.

Measurements: each: image w 8 2/3" x h 10 2/3" (22 x 27 cm), framed w 13 2/3" x h 15 3/4" (34,5 x 40 cm).

Condition: in good condition, professional cleaned .