View of the Pearl River with the City of Canton

anonymous, 1771

From around 1770 European merchants gladly took with them a ‘view of Canton’ as a souvenir when they left China. These depictions were remarkably true to nature. The European buildings were continually renovated and beautified. Because these activities were recorded in the archives, the portrayals can be dated with great precision. This view is one of the earliest of its kind.

  • Artwork typehanging scroll
  • Object numberNG-1052
  • Dimensionsheight 95 cm x width 368 cm
  • Physical characteristicscolours on silk

Identification

  • Title(s)

    View of the Pearl River with the City of Canton

  • Object type

  • Object number

    NG-1052

  • Description

    Gezicht op de stad Canton vanaf de zuidelijke oever van de Chu-Kiang (parelrivier). Links op de noordelijke oever het eilandje Shamian met vijf buitenlandse factorijen (v.l.n.r. Denemarken, Oostenrijk, Zweden, Engeland en Nederland). Rechts daarvan de gedeeltelijk tegen een heuvel gelegen stad Canton. Over de gehele lengte van de rivier een grote diversiteit aan boten. Geheel links kleine bootjes. voor Shamian enkele driemasters. Midden in de rivier een rond, ommuurd eilandje. Rechts daarvan driemasters.

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: anonymous, China

  • Dating

    1771

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    colours on silk

  • Dimensions

    height 95 cm x width 368 cm

This work is about

  • Place

  • Period

    1700 - 1800

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

  • J. van Campen, 'Wisseling in het paviljoen: Kanton in woord en beeld', Aziatsche Kunst 47/3 (2017), pp. 33-36.

Persistent URL

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