Natives of Cochin-China, playing at Shittlecock with their Feet

Location

Country: China
City: Beijing
Place: British Embassy

William Alexander was born in Maidstone, Kent; the son of a coachbuilder. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1784 and may have trained under watercolourist Julius Caesar Ibbetson. He travelled to China as Junior Draughtsman in Lord Macartney's embassy of 1792 to 1794 and his drawings of the expedition were later engraved. In 1802 he became the first Master of Landscape Drawing at the Royal Military College in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire. He held an interest in medieval architecture and travelled throughout Britain, drawing churches and monuments. His drawings of Egyptian antiquities in the British Museum were engraved and published between 1805 and 1807. In 1808, he was appointed the Museum’s Assistant Keeper of Prints and Drawings.
John George Landseer was born in Lincoln; the son of a jeweller. After moving to London, he was apprenticed to W. Byrne. His earliest work was for J. Farington’s ‘Views in the Lake Country’ (1784-88). He also produced plates for D. Hume’s ‘History of England’ (1792-93) and engraved P. J. de Loutherbourg’s Bible vignettes (1794). His children include engraver Thomas (1793/4-1880), painter Charles (1799/1800-1879), painter Sir Edwin (1802-1873) and miniaturists Jessica (1807-1880) and Emma (1809-1895). He campaigned for engravers to be full members of the Royal Academy, becoming an associate in 1806. He published his ‘Lectures on the Art of Engraving’ (1807) and two short-lived journals. From 1837 he was engraver to William IV. He died at 89.

Places

Far East, China

Subjects

smoking, smoking pipe, shuttlecock, topography, tree, palm, mountain, Chinese, boy, man, diplomatic meetings & state visits, house

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

William Alexander (1767 - 1816)
John George Landseer (1769 - 1852)
T Shirt

Title

Natives of Cochin-China, playing at Shittlecock with their Feet

Date

published 12 April 1796

Medium

Engraving

Dimensions

height: 42.00 cm, width: 56.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Sotheby's, 29 May 1996

GAC number

16970