19
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Four of the 'factories' (trading bases) at Canton (Guangzhou) is a 19 by George Chinnery, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This drawing shows four tall trading buildings in 1820s Guangzhou. The American, Paoushun, Imperial, and Swedish “factories” stand in a row by the river. Foreign traders lived and worked here. These buildings were their offices and homes. The Chinese called them “hongs.” This was the only place Europeans could trade under strict rules. See how Chinnery used fine lines to shade the walls. Look for the cross-hatching in the windows. Check out Chinnery, George.
The drawing depicts four of the Western trading buildings known as "factories" or "hongs" in Canton (Guangzhou), arranged from left to right as the American, Paoushun, Imperial, and Swedish establishments. Part of an album containing 175 sketches made in China and India, the work was bequeathed in 1928 as part of a collection of 93 drawings by George Chinnery.
Read the full account in the museum source.
George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.
See the richer artist page
