Artwork
A junk with smaller craft alongside
A junk with smaller craft alongside is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 15 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A marine drawing titled *A junk with smaller craft alongside* portrays a traditional Chinese sailing vessel, or junk, seen from the rear. Flanking the main ship are two smaller boats, creating a compact tableau of riverine traffic captured in a single moment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the juxtaposition of a large merchant vessel with accompanying craft, suggesting themes of trade, navigation, and the hierarchical relationship between ships of differing size within a bustling waterway.
Technique & Style
Rendered in pen and ink, the work relies on dense cross‑hatching to model form and suggest surface texture. This method allows subtle gradations of tone, conveying the hulls’ curvature and the play of light on water without the use of color.
History & Provenance
The drawing is catalogued as a standalone piece; no further details about its creation date, artist, or ownership history are provided in the available record.
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.
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A junk with a small boat alongside
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A junk grounded in shallow water, Macau
Untitled
Untitled
A junk hauling planks aboard
A Chinese junk with a sail partially raised