Artwork
A pig, and a soldier
A pig, and a soldier is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 6 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
George Chinnery made a quick drawing of two things in Macau in 1839: a pig and a soldier. The soldier wore a Portuguese uniform and carried a musket over his shoulder.
The work shows everyday life in Macau during the 1800s. It gives us a snapshot of people and animals sharing the same space.
Look up the artist George Chinnery next.
Overview
Created in 1839, this modest drawing by George Chinnery captures a brief scene from Macau. Rendered in quick, sketchy lines, it presents two distinct figures—a domestic pig and a soldier of the Portuguese garrison—placed side by side within the same visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes an ordinary animal with a uniformed militia member, highlighting the coexistence of everyday rural life and colonial military presence in the city. The pig, a common source of food, and the soldier, a symbol of Portuguese authority, together suggest a snapshot of daily interactions in a bustling port.
Technique & Style
Chinnery employed a rapid pen-and-ink technique, favoring fluid strokes that convey immediacy rather than detailed finish. The drawing’s loose rendering emphasizes gesture and form, allowing the viewer to discern the soldier’s coat and musket and the pig’s rounded body without elaborate shading.
Context
At the time of its creation, Macau was under Portuguese administration, and the presence of a garrisoned soldier reflects the city’s role as a strategic trading outpost. Chinnery, an expatriate artist residing in the region, frequently documented local scenes, providing visual records of the social landscape during the early nineteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
