House of Mr. Whiteman ("the forty-pillared house"), Macao

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Classical Antiquity Architectural

Dominant colour

House of Mr. Whiteman ("the forty-pillared house"), Macao is a 19 by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 19 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a grand house in Macau with forty white pillars. The artist used fine lines to shade the walls and roof. The home belonged to John Clarmont Whiteman, a British merchant. Harriet Daniell copied the drawing from George Chinnery’s sketch. Chinnery was known for views of Macau. See the real house today at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

This drawing depicts the residence of John Clarmont Whiteman in Macau, commonly referred to as the forty-pillared house. Created by Harriet Daniell, it appears to be a copy of a drawing by George Chinnery. The work is part of a volume containing 130 sketches made in Macau, Guangzhou, and nearby areas. The drawing was later bequeathed in 1928 as part of an album of 93 works by Chinnery.

Read the full account in the museum source.