China Revealed..

"China and the Chinese. A series of views from original sketches, displaying the scenery, architecture, social habits, etc., of this ancient and exclusive empire. by Thomas Allom Esquire."

China is a vast country with a huge population and a long history of dynastic empires and battles that span thousands of years. In 1842, at the end of the first Opium Wars with Britain, China became accessible to the West through the newly-acquired British port of Hong Kong. China’s different customs, dress, transport and architecture, combined with unfamiliar religious and superstitious beliefs, created an exotic image. China's amazing natural land formations, engineering achievements, production of porcelain, silk, cotton, tea and rice, all fascinated the British.

The Opium Wars resulted when the Chinese authorities tried to stop the British East India Company’s supply of opium from India. Britain sent war ships from India to protect their ships and their trade. Chinese junks were no match for the British navy. With surrender, the Chinese ceded Hong Kong to the British. There are some wonderful scenes showing this battle.

One of the first westerners to accommodate the enormous British interest in China was English architect and Royal Academy-trained artist, Thomas Allom (1804-1872), whose passion was historical art. For circulation to the British population (and for us enjoy today), skilled topographical engravers were commissioned to produce steel-engravings of Allom’s sketches for publication in London in 1843. They proved so popular that they were re-issued in 1845 and again in 1849. Today it is the 1845 edition of these engravings that are mostly seen, as they were issued in groups of six with flimsy paper wrappers that rarely survived handling. Traditionally, these steel engravings have been hand-tinted with watercolour to highlight their fine detail.

Allom drew intricate architectural scenes incorporating grand city gates, temples, homes of mandarins and wealthy merchants, and the beautiful porcelain tower (pictured). He showed the elaborate lifestyle of the ruling classes and the general populace at work and relaxing – including an infamous opium den. Along with commodity production processes, Allom shows an “itinerant” barber and “itinerant” doctor at work, and the more leisurely trade of fishing using the cormorants. Elegantly composed scenes incorporate practical bamboo aqueduct and irrigation wheels, colourful celebrations of the 5^th day of the 5^th moon with the dragonboat, the 9^th day of the 9^th moon with kite-flying, and many other traditional spectacles – and even famous burial places.

As populations grow, traditions change, and constructions disappear, we are fortunate that Thomas Allom used his architectural and artistic skill, his dedication and passion, to create a marvellous historic overview of China and the Chinese. These images of a fascinating centuries-old country, are available from time to time. View Thomas Allom's China at www.antiqueprintclub.com/c-29-views-general .