A Glass Painter
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A Glass Painter is a 1790 paint by Puqua, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a man copying a European engraving onto the back of a glass sheet. He holds a brush and wears loose robes. The scene looks quiet and precise. It’s part of 100 small paintings of Chinese trades, made for curious European buyers. Puqua turned everyday work into something worth watching. Next time you’re in London, check out more at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The painting depicts a man copying a European engraving onto the back of a glass sheet, part of a series of 100 trade and occupation scenes from Canton. Created in 1790, the work reflects European curiosity about Chinese life and was likely produced for foreign audiences. It was acquired by Parsons & Sons and accessioned in 1898 as part of a broader provenance research initiative.
Read the full account in the museum source.
