Artwork
Boat Going to Four Directions
Boat Going to Four Directions is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a painted depiction of a river ferry, known in Chinese as a “boat going to four directions,” set amid a bustling scene on the Pearl River. It belongs to a series of fifty similar images that catalogued the diverse vessels navigating the waterway, and it was produced for the souvenir market.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a river ferry, a common mode of transport that linked multiple points along the river, hence its name. Surrounding it are numerous other boats, illustrating the heavy traffic and commercial activity that characterized the Canton (Guangzhou) riverine environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in a straightforward, representational manner, the painting emphasizes clear outlines and modest coloration to convey the variety of ship types. The style aligns with utilitarian souvenir production, prioritising recognizable detail over elaborate artistic flourish.
Context
The image reflects observations made during the late eighteenth century, a period when the Pearl River was described by British envoy Lord George Macartney as densely populated with vessels of all sizes. The series captures this vivid maritime landscape at a time of increasing European interest in Chinese trade.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of a larger collection of fifty boat studies that were likely distributed to travelers and merchants as keepsakes. Similar works from this series are held by institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, indicating a broader circulation among Western audiences.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
