The Pearl River in the Thirteen Factories Quarter, Canton

Images(2)

Attributed to Sunqua (Chinese, active 1830 – 1870)

Datec. 1855

MediumGouache on paper

DimensionsComposition: 4 3/4 × 7 in. (12.1 × 17.8 cm) Sheet: 9 5/16 × 11 1/2 in. (23.7 × 29.2 cm) Support: 10 11/16 × 12 13/16 in. (27.1 × 32.5 cm)

Credit LineGift of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Museum of Art, Utica, NY. Gift of Joseph and Neilson Rudd in memory of Thomas Brown Rudd and Helen Neilson Rudd

Object number2011.1.1

Not on view

DescriptionThis gouache was created by a Chinese export artist depicting merchant ships and buildings (hongs) in port at Canton, now Guangzhou, China. Many visible ships are Western, with American, French, and Danish flags flying among the Chinese, as Westerners rented hong buildings on the harbor from the Chinese in order to conduct trading business. Starting in the 18th century, Cantonese authorities did not allow Westerners to remain in Canton past the winter trading season, which suggests this image shows the prime of trading season. Additionally, the shoreline of Canton changed greatly after the fires of 1822 and 1842-43. Prior to the fires, there were numerous wooden scaffolds used to store flammable materials above buildings on the shore. After the fires, however, an effort was made to create green garden-like spaces near the shore, like those seen in this gouache. This scene in particular depicts the gardens and church from Mingqua's hong, one of the thirteen factories on the Pearl River in Canton. Flagstaffs at the hong reflect American, British, and Danish trade. A club and boathouse are visible to the left. Attempts were made to burn them down in the late 1840s, but the concept survived well into the 1850s and the buildings served as a Western status symbol for exclusive waterfront usage.

Collections

Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Art

Additional Details

Alternate Titles The Hongs at Canton

Provenance 2011: Hamilton College (Fred L. Emerson Gallery), by gift of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute;
1966 - 2011: Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Museum of Art, Utica, N.Y., by gift of Joseph and Neilson Rudd;
?: Arthur R. Snyder Art Shop, Newburgh, NY.

Inscribed Inscribed in pencil at lower center of support: "Hongs at CANTON"; in pencil at lower left of support:"Bin #45 F.S"; in pencil at lower right of support: "Artist Unknown / Chinese Treaty Post with Boats" [lines through]; in pencil at lower right corner of support: "MWP / 66.43"; in pencil along upper left side of sheet [sideways]: "Neilson 3" gold mat"