Who painted A junk with a Tanka boat alongside?

A junk with a Tanka boat alongside was painted by George Chinnery in 19.

Where can I see A junk with a Tanka boat alongside?

A junk with a Tanka boat alongside is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A junk with a Tanka boat alongside?

A junk with a Tanka boat alongside is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A junk with a Tanka boat alongside

George Chinnery , 19

A junk with a Tanka boat alongside 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.

About this work

Overview

This double-sided drawing, executed by George Chinnery, presents a maritime scene on one face and a temple landscape on the reverse. Both images are rendered in a Romantic manner, emphasizing atmospheric effects and a sense of distance. The work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The front panel depicts a Chinese junk sailing beside a smaller Tanka boat, set against a coastal village where a pagoda rises on a hill, likely the Whampoa (Huangpu) landmark. The reverse shows a seven‑storey pagoda perched on a modest rise, bathed in sunlight, with additional Tanka vessels positioned in the foreground, suggesting a contemplative view of trade and spirituality.

Technique & Style

Chinnery employs delicate pen and ink lines typical of early 19th‑century drawing, combined with washes that create soft tonal gradients. The Romantic influence appears in the treatment of light—particularly the sun’s rays behind the pagoda on the back—and in the evocative, almost lyrical composition of the harbor and temple scenes.

History & Provenance

Created during Chinnery’s long residence in Canton, the drawing reflects his extensive observation of local maritime life. It entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it has been catalogued as an example of his Chinese period work.

Context

Chinnery, a British artist active in China from the 1790s to the 1820s, frequently recorded the region’s architecture and river traffic for both commercial patrons and personal study. This piece aligns with his broader output of topographical sketches that catered to European interest in the Far East’s visual culture.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Chinnery

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.