Artwork
Steps and part of the Church of S. Lorenzo, Macao
Steps and part of the Church of S. Lorenzo, Macao 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
Look up the museum that holds this drawing: Victoria and Albert Museum.
George Chinnery drew this view of Macau in 1852. It shows a street heading toward the church of S. Lorenzo with a column just visible at the top of the steps. The drawing is a careful study of the city’s architecture.
Chinnery lived in Macau for years. He often sketched its streets, buildings, and people. This work captures the quiet corner where Rua de S. Lourenço meets the church.
Look up the museum that holds this drawing: Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 1852 drawing by George Chinnery depicts a serene scene in Macau, focusing on the intersection of Rua de S. Lourenço and the approach to the Church of S. Lorenzo.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing showcases a quiet, everyday corner of Macau, with the church's façade partially revealed through a column at the top of the steps, emphasizing the integration of religious and civic spaces.
Technique & Style
Chinnery's careful study of the city's architecture is evident in the meticulous rendering of the street, steps, and building details, characteristic of his observational drawing style.
History & Provenance
Created during Chinnery's extended residence in Macau, this work is now part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
Part of a series of sketches by Chinnery documenting Macau's streets, buildings, and people, this drawing provides a historical glimpse into the city's 19th-century landscape.
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.
