Artwork
The Misericordia Church and part of the Senate House, Macao
The Misericordia Church and part of the Senate House, Macao is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This drawing captures two landmarks side-by-side: the church and the neoclassical Leal Senado from 1784.
George Chinnery drew this Romanticist sketch in 1836. It shows the front door of the Misericórdia Church in Macau’s Senado Square. The church still stands today, though rebuilt around 1905.
Chinnery lived in Macau and often sketched its streets and buildings. This drawing captures two landmarks side-by-side: the church and the neoclassical Leal Senado from 1784.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
George Chinnery’s 1836 drawing records the façade of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia church as it appeared in Macau’s Senado Square, positioned beside the neoclassical Leal Senado building. The sketch, executed in a Romantic style, captures the two civic landmarks together, offering a view of the square before later architectural alterations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the church’s main entrance, emphasizing its role as a religious and charitable institution in the Portuguese colony. Adjacent to it, the Leal Senado, erected in 1784, signifies municipal authority, highlighting the juxtaposition of spiritual and civic power within the urban landscape.
Technique & Style
Rendered in ink and wash, Chinnery’s work combines precise architectural line work with atmospheric shading, characteristic of Romanticist sketching. The drawing balances detailed rendering of structural elements with a softer tonal treatment that suggests the bustling ambience of the square.
History & Provenance
Created during Chinnery’s residence in Macau, the drawing documents the original appearance of the Misericórdia Church before its reconstruction in a classical style around 1905. The Leal Senado, now known as the IAM building, retains its 1784 neoclassical form.
Context
In the early nineteenth century Macau, the church and the Senate formed the core of the colonial administrative and charitable complex. Chinnery’s frequent street sketches served both as visual records for European audiences and as personal studies of the city’s hybrid architecture.
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.
Misericordia Church and Senate House, Macao
Front of Misericordia Church, Macao
A view past the Misericordia Church towards Fort Monte, Macau
The Misericordia church and tower, Macau
Mr. Baretto's House, Macao
The church of S. Domingos, Macau
Franciscan Church, Macao
The steps and wall of S. Lourenço Church, Macau
The gateway to the convent of Santa Clara, Macau
Church of S. Domingo, Macao
The gateway to the convent of Santa Clara, Macau
The church of S. Francisco, Macau