This book addresses the practice on the historical connection between China's Maritime Silk Road in the 18th to 19th centuries and early Chinese oil paintings. It demonstrates the historical, artistic and scientific value of export paintings during a specific period from the perspective of technological history. This book contrasts the investigation of historical materials with the analysis of paintings, interpreting the materials and production techniques of Chinese export paintings using scientific analysis approaches. It re-examines the significance and value of export paintings in material and cultural exchanges between the East and the West, filling a niche in similarity of the research area. This book also contains a full collection of historical color images from first-hand accounts of material. It could serve as a comprehensive reference for archaeological researchers in a specific area of China's cultural heritage.

Bin Wang is currently an associate professor from School of Fine art and Heritage Conservation at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. Dr. Wang obtained a PhD degree from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. He is engaged in teaching and research in the field of cultural heritage conservation and restoration, with a focus on the study and conservation of Chinese and Western paintings. Dr. Wang’s main research interests include painting materials and techniques, analytical methods, and the conservation of oil paintings.