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Canton Shops Physic Street

Courtesy of a private collector | All Rights Reserved

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Date

[February - March 1850]

Artist

Robert Elwes (1819-1878)

Collection

Private Collection

Description

"I made a sketch of one of the principal streets – Physic Street – but I had great difficulty in managing it; for when I stopped and took out my book, everyone crowded round to see the wonderful operation. In half a minute the street was blocked up with the crowd and I had to shut up my book and pass on".
This is a page from a unique leather-bound volume of Robert Elwes’ travelogue 'A Sketcher's Tour Round the World', first published 1854, (see page 342 for corresponding passage).
The book contains the printed text of the manuscript but remarkably, the monochrome wash illustrations are hand painted by Elwes. The book bears a handwritten inscription ‘Mary F Elwes from her affect. husband Robert Elwes Jan 25 1878’, dated after Robert Elwes became ill at Congham, his Norfolk home. On 28th January 1878 , their youngest daughter Violet noted in her diary: “Papa much worse”. Less than three months later, Robert Elwes died on 17th April aged 58.

Image Licence

All Rights Reserved

Image Credit

Courtesy of a private collector

Location

Tsiang-Lan-Kiai, Guangzhou, China

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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform