Artwork
Four of the 'factories' (trading bases) at Canton (Guangzhou)
Four of the 'factories' (trading bases) at Canton (Guangzhou) is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 19 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1820s drawing depicts four adjacent 'factories' (trading bases) in Guangzhou, then known as Canton, along a riverfront.
About this work
Overview
This 1820s drawing depicts four adjacent 'factories' (trading bases) in Guangzhou, then known as Canton, along a riverfront. These structures served as combined residences and offices for foreign traders.
Subject & Meaning
The depicted 'factories' represent the restricted yet vital commercial hubs for Western nations in 19th-century Guangzhou. They were known as 'hongs' to the Chinese and operated under stringent regulations, highlighting the controlled nature of East-West trade at the time.
Technique & Style
The drawing showcases meticulous rendering through fine lines used for shading building walls and cross-hatching techniques evident in the window details, characteristic of the artist's attention to architectural detail.
History & Provenance
Attributed to George Chinnery, a British artist active in the region, this work reflects his documentation of colonial-era Guangzhou. Specific ownership and exhibition histories are not provided in the available information.
Context
Created in the 1820s, this drawing captures a pivotal moment in Sino-European trade relations, preceding the Opium Wars. It reflects the spatial and regulatory constraints imposed on foreign traders by Chinese authorities.
Legacy
As a detailed visual record of Guangzhou's trading landscape, the drawing provides valuable historical insight into the architecture and operational constraints of early 19th-century Sino-Western commercial interactions.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.
Chungqua's premises seen from the portico of the East India Company's 'factory' at Guangzhou (Canton)
Chinqua's House & part of the Factories, Canton, China. March 1st 1828
Chinqua's house, with entrance to China Street, Canton
The East India Company's 'factory' in Canton (Guangzhou)
The British 'factory' on the Praya Grande, Macau
Chinese buildings, probably in Guangzhou (Canton)
Minqua's house, and entrance to China Street, Canton