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Actions Displays	Details Remove from selection Add to selection CollectionStraits Chinese Collection Object numberB2012-0003-002-0 TitlePortrait of Tan Kim Seng CreatorLuo Yi Hu (罗以湖) Description“The three identical paintings on canvas all depict Tan Kim Seng in half-length. These are evidently rendered after the watercolour original. Details of the armchair, fan and rolled book are repeated in these three paintings, although the book has been reduced to an indistinct white cylindrical object. In all three paintings, the backgrounds are dark and plain. These three examples are executed in the style of Chinese export paintings and are noticeably influenced by the work of Lamqua. The signatures of the artists are inscribed on the fans. Two are signed by the same artist, Luo Yihu (羅以湖), who describes himself as ‘younger brother’ (弟), and are exactly identical; one hangs in the Tan ancestral house (rumah abu) in Malacca, while the other is now in the collection of NUS Museum. The latter was donated by Tan Kim Seng’s descendant Winson Tan who recalls that this painting was formerly displayed in the family office. It is possible that these two portraits would have been executed soon after Tan Kim Seng’s death in 1864. The same painting was also illustrated in Song Ong Siang’s book, although it seems the image was retouched for publication. The third painting, a later copy that was displayed in the hall of Panglima Prang, is now in the collection of Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum. This painting also has an inscription on the fan, with information about the artist and sitter. It is signed Qu Chiqing (屈馳卿) and dated with a Chinese cyclical year (辛未歲) that would indicate either the year 1871 or 1931.” (Inherited & Salvaged, Family Portraits from the NUS Museum Straits Chinese Collection, Page 47). Production placeProbably Singapore Production periodUndated Object categoryPortrait MaterialOil on canvas Dimensions H: 97 cm L: 76 cm H: 114.8 cm L: 93.8 cm Credit lineGift of Winson Tan in memory of Edward Tan Tiang Leong

Object numberB2012-0003-002-0

TitlePortrait of Tan Kim Seng

Description“The three identical paintings on canvas all depict Tan Kim Seng in half-length. These are evidently rendered after the watercolour original. Details of the armchair, fan and rolled book are repeated in these three paintings, although the book has been reduced to an indistinct white cylindrical object. In all three paintings, the backgrounds are dark and plain. These three examples are executed in the style of Chinese export paintings and are noticeably influenced by the work of Lamqua. The signatures of the artists are inscribed on the fans. Two are signed by the same artist, Luo Yihu (羅以湖), who describes himself as ‘younger brother’ (弟), and are exactly identical; one hangs in the Tan ancestral house (rumah abu) in Malacca, while the other is now in the collection of NUS Museum. The latter was donated by Tan Kim Seng’s descendant Winson Tan who recalls that this painting was formerly displayed in the family office. It is possible that these two portraits would have been executed soon after Tan Kim Seng’s death in 1864. The same painting was also illustrated in Song Ong Siang’s book, although it seems the image was retouched for publication. The third painting, a later copy that was displayed in the hall of Panglima Prang, is now in the collection of Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum. This painting also has an inscription on the fan, with information about the artist and sitter. It is signed Qu Chiqing (屈馳卿) and dated with a Chinese cyclical year (辛未歲) that would indicate either the year 1871 or 1931.” (Inherited & Salvaged, Family Portraits from the NUS Museum Straits Chinese Collection, Page 47).

Production placeProbably Singapore

Production periodUndated

Object categoryPortrait

MaterialOil on canvas

Dimensions

H: 97 cm
L: 76 cm
H: 114.8 cm
L: 93.8 cm

Credit lineGift of Winson Tan in memory of Edward Tan Tiang Leong