In the heart of San Francisco’s Miraloma neighborhood, a mysterious oil painting has captivated generations of the Yee family. The unsigned and undated portrait, known as ‘China Boy,’ depicts a young Chinese boy in rough brushstrokes, sparking curiosity and wonder among those who gaze upon it.
The painting’s journey begins with Kelvin Yee, who inherited the portrait from his father, Kong Yee. As a child, Kelvin often wondered about the stories his father told him regarding the artwork. Kong Yee claimed that the painting was created by a renowned artist whose works adorned museum walls, and that he was the young boy depicted in the portrait.
The journey of Kong Yee and his family
The tale of Kong Yee and his family is a poignant reflection of the Asian American experience. Kong Yee’s grandfather had journeyed to California to contribute to the Transcontinental Railroad and seek fortune in the gold rush. However, the Chinese Exclusion Act thwarted his plans to settle permanently in the United States. Instead, he sent money back to China, where he started a family that included his son Wee Ham Yee and his grandson Kong Yee.
When Kong Yee was just nine years old, he and his father embarked on a journey to the United States from Guangdong Province. Kong Yee’s mother stood on the dock, her figure growing smaller and smaller, as he set sail, unaware that he would never see her again. The pair settled in Santa Barbara, where a small Chinese community resided. Wee Ham Yee found work as a cook on an estate in Montecito, while young Kong Yee lived in the back of the Sun Tong laundry, seeing his father only once a week.
The creation of ‘China Boy’
A few years later, Kong Yee began working as a houseboy at the affluent Probert estate in Santa Barbara. It was here that the ‘China Boy’ portrait was painted. The artist, Charles Cabot Daniels, had been commissioned by the family for portraiture. Intrigued by Kong Yee’s exotic and striking features, Daniels asked him to sit for a portrait, offering the rough copy as payment.
The painting was not the only lasting memory from Kong Yee’s time at the Probert estate. He developed a lifelong love for classical music, inspired by his special friendship with the estate owner’s daughter. She played pieces from ‘Turandot’ and Puccini, captivating young Kong Yee. In fact, Kelvin Yee discovered a lock of blonde hair among his father’s belongings, labeled with the pet name ‘Cio Cio,’ likely drawn from the opera ‘Madame Butterfly.’ Both ‘Turandot’ and ‘Madame Butterfly’ explore themes of East meets West, reflecting the unique cultural exchange that took place at the Probert estate.
The search for answers
After his father’s passing, Kelvin Yee inherited the ‘China Boy’ portrait and the questions that accompanied it. Determined to uncover the truth, he embarked on a journey to learn more about the painting and its creator. With the help of friends, Kelvin discovered that the portrait had once hung in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. The artist, Charles Cabot Daniels, was a distinguished figure in the art world, having graduated cum laude from Harvard University and studied in Italy.
The museum had acquired the artwork in 1985 as a gift from Mark Piel. However, in 2011, the painting was sold via Christie’s, partly due to its condition. The museum also held another painting by Daniels, a self-portrait of the artist, which was sold in 2005 to diversify the museum’s collection.
As images of ‘China Boy,’ titled online as ‘Chinese Boy – Kong,’ proliferated, more chapters of the story began to emerge. Daniels had won awards in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara for his artworks, including a prize for ‘Chinese Girl,’ according to a 1936 article in The Morning Press newspaper. The identity of this girl remains unknown, shrouded in the anonymity of an era that often overlooked Asian Americans.
Kelvin Yee stands as a testament to the power of art in preserving history and culture. ‘A painting is a way of telling a story,’ he said. ‘It’s the novel, it’s the history lesson.’ As we continue to explore the enigmatic ‘China Boy’ portrait, we are reminded of the rich tapestry of the Asian American experience and the enduring legacy of those who came before us.
