Artwork
Rocks, and part of the Great Joss House, Macao
Rocks, and part of the Great Joss House, Macao is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “Rocks, and part of the Great Joss House, Macao” is a drawing that captures a segment of a hillside landscape adjacent to the A‑Ma (also known as Ma‑kok) temple. The composition includes a rocky slope densely populated with trees, with a portion of the temple structure appearing on the right side of the image.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing presents a natural‑cultural scene where the rugged terrain and vegetation frame the sacred architecture of the A‑Ma temple, suggesting a relationship between the local environment and religious site. The inclusion of the temple’s partial silhouette emphasizes its integration within the surrounding landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed as a drawing, the piece relies on line work to delineate the contours of the rocks, foliage, and architectural elements. The treatment of texture—such as the roughness of stone and the foliage’s density—suggests a careful observational approach, typical of landscape studies in drawing.
Context
A‑Ma temple, a historic shrine in Macao dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, is situated on a hillside that has long been a focal point for both worship and scenic appreciation. The artwork reflects this setting by portraying the immediate natural surroundings that define the temple’s locale.
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.
