Not currently on display at the V&A

Man Singing Dragon Boat Songs

Painting
ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painting is from a set of 100 depicting different trades and occupations in Canton. It shows a man singing dragon boat songs. Paintings such as this were made for Europeans eager to find out more about China and her people.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMan Singing Dragon Boat Songs (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and ink on paper
Brief description
Painting, "Man Singing Dragon Boat Songs", watercolours and ink on paper, Puqua, Guangzhou, China, ca.1790
Physical description
Rectangular watercolour painting, the central figure, wears a drum and carried an intricately carved, red, dragon-shaped boat at the end of a long pole, this painting is from a set of 100 depicting different trades and occupations in Canton.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Width: 46cm
Style
Object history
This painting is from a set of 100 depicting different trades and occupations in Canton. It shows a man singing dragon boat songs. Paintings such as this were made for Europeans eager to find out more about China and her people.
Purchased from Parsons & Sons, accessioned in 1898. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Production
Reputedly by Puqua
Subjects depicted
Summary
This painting is from a set of 100 depicting different trades and occupations in Canton. It shows a man singing dragon boat songs. Paintings such as this were made for Europeans eager to find out more about China and her people.
Bibliographic reference
Souvenir from Canton : Chinese export paintings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Shanghai, 2003 165
Collection
Accession number
D.130-1898

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Record createdFebruary 2, 2004
Record URL
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