Daily life
A series of prints depicting life in China more than two centuries ago were recently selected to be on display in the National Maritime Museum of China in Tianjin, which will open in 2017.
It was in 1793 when Qianlong, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, celebrated his 80th birthday. A British envoy team was sent to China to participate in the event and take the opportunity to establish diplomatic relations and start businesses between China and Britain.
One of the envoys, Willian Alexander, was a painter and he painted a large number of works showing to what he saw and experienced in China. In 1843, Thomas Allom, founder of the Royal Institute of British Architects, repainted more than 120 of Alexander's Chinese scenes.
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| Four paintings within the series painted by Thomas Allom. [Photo/enorth.com.cn] |
Photography was not yet commonplace at that time but people could still learn about China though these seemingly prosperous and peaceful 19th-century paintings.
The Great Wall, beautiful mountains and rivers, lanterns in Beijing streets, the tea making process, and interesting races during Spring Festival — many aspects of Chinese life are reflected in these works.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the vivid pictures when the National Maritime Museum of China opens next year.
