William Alexander, English, 1767-1816
Title: The Suburbs of a Chinese City
Date: 1795
Medium: Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions:
31.3 x 45.2 cm
Signed: lower left: Wm Alexander delt.
Credit Line: Presented, Mr W.M. Smith, 1872
Object Number: NGI.2001
DescriptionWilliam Alexander, who studied drawing at the Royal Academy Schools in London, was appointed junior draughtsman to Lord Macartney’s embassy to China in 1792. This was Britain’s first diplomatic mission to Imperial China, and Alexander’s drawings of the expedition were engraved and published in George Staunton’s official record, An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China (1797). Alexander made hundreds of sketches ‘in the field’, many of which were worked up into finished watercolour compositions following his return to England. These meticulous, highly detailed drawings in graphite and tinted wash offered the British public a vision of ordinary Chinese life that was both vivid and up-to-date. The entourage travelled by barge and Alexander’s views of waterside life included paddy fields, graveyards, buildings, bridges and locks. The views are enlivened by the people and curly-tailed dogs who gather to watch the foreigners as they proceed through the countryside. Alexander’s closely observed studies of Chinese dress and hairstyles were incorporated into a book published in 1805, The Costume of China. In 1808 Alexander was appointed assistant librarian and first Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum.

March 2016

This website uses cookies

We use optional cookies to enhance your user experience and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services.

Details

About Cookies

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website. Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy. Please state your consent ID and date when you contact us regarding your consent.

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

NameProviderPurposeExpiryType
JSESSIONIDeMuseumUser SessionSessionHTTP

Statistics Cookies

Statistic cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.

NameProviderPurposeExpiryType
_gaGoogle Tag ManagerRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.2 yearsJavaScript
_gidGoogle Tag ManagerRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.1 dayJavaScript