2-798-559 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Curious Chinese drawing of an English war-steamer, 1844. British steamship seen through Chinese eyes: 'an English War-Steamer, executed by a Chinese artist, soon after its arrival at Hong-Kong. If we remember rightly, the term applied to one of our steamers, when first seen by the Chinese, was the uncomplimentary cognomen of "Fire-Devil". The reader must make allowance for the low state ot the art of drawing in China, in looking at our engraving; the colours of the drawing itself are, however, very superb. In drawings where perspective is not very strictly required, as in representations of birds, insects, fruit, and flowers, the Chinese artists are very successful; and Viscount Jocelyn assures us that the best pictures of Chinese life are to be found upon the porcelain tea-services manufactured in China'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol V.