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Hong Kong and Boats

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

"The harbour-boats are very commodious, and it would be difficult to invent a boat better adapted for its peculiar uses. Each is inhabited by a Chinese family, who live on board, having no other habitation; call them at any hour of the day or night, and in two minutes they will be perfectly ready to go anywhere".
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 332 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

Hong Kong

Country

Tags

Boats
Coasts
Ports

Category

Landscapes & Seascapes

Glossary
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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform