(British, 1737-1812)

The Borders of Lake Hsi-Hoo, the Temple of the Thundering Winds from the Vale of Tombs, China, 1797, signed lower right " T.D. pinxt 1797," watercolor, 13- 1/2 by 20-3/4 in.; distressed gilt wood frame, watercolor on wove paper, 22-3/8 x 30-5/8 x 1-1/8 in.

Provenance: Christie, Manson & Woods. Catalogue of Highly Important Printed Books and Manuscripts, Autograph Letters and Some Drawings and Etchings by Old Masters ; the Property of the Right Honourable the Earl of Derby, M.C. Removed from Knowsley Hall, Lancashire...1953. No. A 22; Frank T. Sabin; Private Collection

Note: This drawing, said to be signed and dated 1797, appears to be a copy of an engraving by J. Landseer and T. Shirt after William Alexander, published April 12, 1796. William Alexander, painter and engraver, accompanied the British military's Macartney Embassy for the first diplomatic relations mission to China from 1792-1794. The print bears the same title as the drawing by Davies.

Thomas Davies was a British military officer who did campaigns around North America. Throughout his military career he frequently did topography drawings and watercolors of the surrounding landscapes. He presumably received drawing training from Gamaliel Massiot, drawing-master at Woolwich from 1744 to 1768. While many believe Thomas Davies joined the Macartney Embassy, he did not, and instead was in Europe where he continued to get promotions in his military career and become a well-known naturalist.

The drawing was listed under A22 of Appendix A, in the book "Thomas Davies", c. 1737-1812" published by the National Gallery of Canada in 1972. According to the book, the piece from the Earl of Derby’s folio of more than 50 drawings sold in 1953 by Christie’s to dealer Frank T. Sabin. Sabin subsequently sold selections to the National Gallery of Canada, Old Print Shop and others.

Lake Xi Hu or Hsi Hu (West Lake) is just outside the walls of Hangchow and still exists today.