Cotton Ferry
1810
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1810
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Cotton Ferry is a 1810 paint by Unknown, a Realism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a ferry transporting cotton on a busy river. It's one of a set of 50 paintings depicting different boats on the Pearl River. These paintings were made as souvenirs, giving us a glimpse of life on the river back then. The description by Lord George Macartney helps us understand the scene. You can learn more about this style by looking into the technique: sfumato.
This rectangular painting depicts a flat-bottomed ferry transporting bales of white cotton at its stern, with a small curved cabin at the center. The vessel features a tall mast with extensive rigging and a partially raised sail. It was part of a set of 50 images mass-produced as souvenirs, illustrating the variety of boats on the Pearl River. Lord George Macartney’s 18th-century account describes the river as densely crowded with vessels of all sizes.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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