A Street Conjurer
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A Street Conjurer is a 1790 paint by Puqua, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a street magician in China around 1790. He waves his hands over a smoking bowl while coins and cups float in the air. The crowd watches, some covering their mouths in surprise. These images were made for Europeans curious about life in Canton. They used bright colors to show everyday scenes, not just fancy portraits. Look up Puqua if you want to see more works from this set.
The painting depicts a street conjuror as part of a set of 100 works illustrating trades in Canton, with the central figure in blue standing on a mat surrounded by objects. Created for European audiences curious about Chinese life, it reflects the broader series' focus on artisans and their occupations. Acquired in 1898 from Parsons & Sons, it is now part of a documented collection.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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