Taiwan Yuhina
Painting
1800-1830 (made)
1800-1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This painting of a Taiwan yuhina is an example of a type of picture that was mass produced in China for European visitors. It was made in Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China. In the 18th century the city became the principal – and later the only – trading port at which Europeans were permitted to buy Chinese goods.
Foreign flora and fauna were of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with paintings depicting numerous species of exotic birds.
Foreign flora and fauna were of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with paintings depicting numerous species of exotic birds.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Taiwan Yuhina (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour and ink on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, 'Taiwan Yuhina', watercolour and ink on paper, Guangzhou, China, c.1800-1830 |
| Physical description | Painting depicting a small brown bird on plain ground. The bird sits on a brown branch which grows green leaves and a series of pink flowers which hang down from small stems. The border has flattened corners. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Foreign flora and fauna was of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with paintings depicting numerous species of exotic birds. This painting of a Taiwan yuhina is one of those mass-produced pictures aimed at European visitors. Purchased from E. Parsons, accessioned in 1889. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This painting of a Taiwan yuhina is an example of a type of picture that was mass produced in China for European visitors. It was made in Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China. In the 18th century the city became the principal – and later the only – trading port at which Europeans were permitted to buy Chinese goods. Foreign flora and fauna were of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with paintings depicting numerous species of exotic birds. |
| Bibliographic reference | Souvenir from Canton : Chinese export paintings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Shanghai, 2003 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | D.1325-1889 |
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| Record created | October 1, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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