Page 70 - A Time and A Place Catalogue, Jorge Welsh

81 Pair
of Plaques

Gouache on ivory A pair of small ivory plaques painted in gouache,
each depicting a different city scene. One plaque
China — Qing dynasty, is decorated with a view of Macao, with the two bays
Jiaqing period visible, and probably painted from the Barra Hill. On
(1796-1820), ca. 1806 the other side of the peninsula are Portas do Cerco,
that separate the city from China’s mainland. On the
H. 7.5 cm right, in the foreground, is the hill of Penha with the
L. 12.5 cm Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha on top. Across
the bay, the curve of Praia Grande filled with houses
Provenance along the shore, leads to the Monastery and Church
Captain John William of São Francisco, with the Guia Hill and chapel
Robertson behind. On the left of the scene is the Ilha Verde
beyond the Chinese junks and European ships,
anchored in the Porto Interior in front of sandy
beaches. The first group of houses in the back­
ground probably represents the Patane neigh­
bour­hood, and in the foreground is Barra, which is
bounded by a wall. In the centre of the composition
is the Monte fort, surrounded at the base by several
buildings, including the college and Church of São
Paulo, the Church of São Domingos, the Church
of São Lázaro and the Cathedral of Macao.

The other plaque shows a view of the Western
factories or hongs in Canton, beside the Pearl River,
with six different flags representing their respective
nationalities, namely Danish, Spanish, North
American, Swedish, British and Dutch. Several
figures are depicted in front of the factories,
where fences, trees, piers and steps leading down
to the water are seen, and several merchant boats
are painted at anchor, while a small ship flying
the American flag is under way. →

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