Circle of Wang Yeting (1884-1942) Chinese, Porcelain Plate Painting. The third kanji reads "Yihai's Yeting," suggesting this was made by an apprentice of the master Wang Yeting, who was a member of the famous "Eight Friends of Zhushan" porcelain painters.

Painting depicting a landscape of a river through mountains as a lone figure in blue walks its shore. Titled "Four Poems on the Lake, Pleasing Mountain Port Baiyun." Plate mounted to wooden wall screen.

Frame: 30 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. 

Sight: 14 x 9 1/2 in. 

#2546 . 

The Eight Friends of Zhushan was a group of porcelain painters mostly active from the mid 19th Century to the mid 20th Century. The group was initially called the Full Moon Society, and the last surviving member of the group, Liu Luchen, passed away in 1969. The Eight Friends of Zhushan were among the best porcelain artists of the Republic period, and were instrumental in revitalizing the Chinese porcelain industry after the Taiping Rebellion and other uprisings and political unrest in China in the mid 19th Century decimated the whole country. The group are reputed to have met on the full moon of every lunar month at Zhushan to exchange ideas on art and trade. Each of the artists specialized in different subjects and had their own distinctive styles. The whole number was not limited to eight since over the years some members came and went. It is now generally accepted there were ten total artists that were members of the group. The establishment of the Eight Friends of Zhushan group was inspired by the Yangzhou Ba Guai artist group (Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou) of the early Qing Dynasty. The original Eight Friends of Zhushan were Wang Yi (the de facto leader, and a figure painter), Deng Bishan (fish and seaweed painter), Xu Zhongnan (bamboo), Tian Hexian (plums), Wang Dafan (another who focused on figure painting), Wang Yeting (landscapes), Cheng Yiting and Liu Yucen (who both specialized in painting flowers and birds). The Zhushan (Pearl Hill) from which the group took its name is the high point of the former location of the Imperial Porcelain factory in Jingdezhen, offering an excellent view of the city below, lined by glowing fires and billowing smoke from hundreds of wood fired kilns. 

The Port of Guangzhou is the main seaport of Guangzhou City, Guangdong province, China. It is currently the largest port in South China, with maritime trade reaching over 300 ports in 80 countries around the world. The port has existed in one form or another since the Qin Dynasty, being known at the time as the “Silk Road on the Sea,” and was the busiest trade center during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The port is an important economic and political area as well due to its position at the intersection of the three most important rivers in South China: the Dongjiang, Xijiang, and Beijiang. Together they create the Pearl River Delta Region, and the enormity of the port zone means it is shared by the cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai, as well as being the foremost direct trade route with Hong Kong. 

The word "Baiyun" refers to both the cloudy expanse between the rivers and mountains and the name of the large mountain to the north of Guangzhou. Numerous small lakes and tributaries feed into the larger rivers, and this image of quiet, peaceful life along the water speaks to a time long before massive shipping vessels and tall buildings filled the area.

Wood commensurate with age. Overall good.