Artwork
Man Making a Statue
Man Making a Statue is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Puqua. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This rectangular watercolor, dated 1790, portrays a figure dressed in green standing beside a tall, unfinished grey sculpture.
About this work
Overview
This rectangular watercolor, dated 1790, portrays a figure dressed in green standing beside a tall, unfinished grey sculpture. The scene is part of a larger series of one hundred images that document different trades and occupations in Canton, offering a visual record of professional activity in that era.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on two robed men engaged in the creation of a statue. One figure, positioned on a low stool, applies paint to the seated form, while the other concentrates on detailing the statue’s face. The work highlights the collaborative nature of artistic labor and the gradual emergence of a lifelike figure from raw material.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the painting employs a restrained palette of greens, blues, and muted grays. Soft brushwork renders the developing statue with careful, incremental detail, while the plain background eliminates distraction, directing attention to the act of sculpting itself.
History & Provenance
Acquired from the dealers Parsons & Sons, the piece entered the museum’s collection in 1898. Its accession is documented in the Asia Department registers, a record clarified by provenance research conducted in 2022.
Artist & collection
