CHINNERY
(Continuation)
Here are a few further notes on George Chinnery, R.H.A., whose protracted sojourn in South China resulted in a large output of pictures and portraits of prominent people of that time; now so much sought after.
Mr. Jack Braga writes from Macao:
"The mention of Chinnery in last Friday's Post (28-7-33) conjures up memories of early British associations with Macao, for the best known and best loved figure of the large English community in Macao, before the advent of Hongkong, was the famous painter.
"The house in which Chinnery lived at Macao still stands and his grave in the old East India Company's cemetery may still be seen.
"In the article describing some of the works of the artist recently exhibited in London, an error of some importance occurs in a description of the picture known as 'Dent's Verandah.' This picture is one of Chinnery's best known Macao pictures, and the figures represented are not 'contemporary officials' but those of very well known English merchants of the period and a British officer of some repute; they are Mr. Durand, the host, by the side of Mr. William C. Hunter, both resting on lounges, while leaning against the balustrade, stands Captain Hall of H.M.S. Nemesis, whose exploits in the taking of the Macao Passage in the West River and at Shanghai during the first Anglo-Chinese War made him very well known in this part of the world.
"Dent's Building in Macao was pulled down only a few months ago, the fact being commented on at the time in the Post, the building being for long pointed to with pride as one of the last few survivals of English intercourse with Macao in the good old days."
The Mr. Hunter mentioned was the author of "The Fan Kwae at Canton," and "Bits of Old China." A photograph of the original picture now hangs in the P.W.D. offices. The original oil painting (which was finished about the year 1840) was exhibited at an art exhibition in Hongkong in 1876, by Mr. William Keswick, then head of Jardine's, and is still in the possession of the Keswick family.
An ambiguous note inadvertently crept into the reference (3-8-33) to Dr. Morrison's portrait by Chinnery (painted about 1820). The picture in the H.K. University is a mezzotint, engraved from the original by Turner and published in 1830.
Not long ago I viewed a self-portrait of Chinnery which is now in Hongkong having been purchased in Macao last year from an old Portuguese family who possessed it. It is a bust portrait, and shows him three-quarter face holding a palette and a paint brush in his hands and wearing spectacles. The painting is in excellent condition.
The close connexion of George Chinnery with this Colony for which we are indebted to him for recording many of its old scenes justifies fuller reference to this famous artist in dealing with Old Hongkong.
CHINNERY
(Continuation )
Here are a few further notes on George Chinnery, R.H.A., whose protracted sojourn in South China resulted in a large output of pictures and portraits of prominent people of that time; now so much sought after..
Mr. Jack Braga writes from Macao:
"The mention of Chinnery in last Friday's Post
( 28-7-33 ) conjures up memories of early British associations with Macao, for the best known and best loved figure of the large English community in Macao, before the advent of Hongkong, was the famours painter.
"The house in which Chinnery lived at Macao still stands and his grave in the old East India Company's cemetery may s till be seen.
體
"In the article describing some of the works of the ertist recently exhibited in London, an error of some importance occurs in a description of the picture known as "Dent' s Verandah. This picture is one of Chinnery's best known Macao pictures, and the figures represented are not "contemporary officials" but those of very well krom English merchants of the period and a British officer :: some repute; they are Mr. Durand, the host, by the side of Mr. William C. Hunter, both resting on lounges, while,
aning against the balustrade, stands Captain Hall of E.M.S. Nemesis, whose exploits in the taking of the Macao Fassage in the West River and at Shanghai during the first Anglo-Chinese War made him very well known in this part of the world.
"Dent's Building in Macao was pulled down only a few months ago, the fact being commented on at the time in the Post, the building being for long pointed to with prode as one of the last few survivals of English inter- course with Macao in the good old days."
The Mr. Hunter mentioned was the author of "The Fan Kwae at Canton," and "Bits of Old China." A photograph of the original picture now hangs in the P.W.D. offices. The original oil painting (which was finished about "the year 1840) was exhibited at an art exhibition in Hongkong in 1876, by Mr. William Keswick, then head of Jardine's, and is still in the possession of the Keswick family.
An ambiguous note inadvertently crept into the re- ference (3-8-33) to Dr. Morrison's portrait by Chinnery (painted about 1820). The picture in the H.K. University is a mezzotint, engraved from the original by Turner and published in 1830.
Not long ago I viewed a self-portrait of Chinnery which is now in Hongkong having been purchased in Macao last year from an old Portuguese family who possessed it. It is a bust portrait, and shows him three-quarter face holding a paletter and a paint brush in his hands and wearing spectacles. The painting is in excellent condition.
The close connexion of George Chinnery with this Colony we are indebted to him for recording many of its old scenes justifies fuller reference to this famours artist in dealing with Old Hongkong.
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