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CHINNERY’S SHADOW: THE ARTIST, HIS COMPANIONS AND STUDENTS
Macao, a picturesque city dubbed the ‘City of the Holy Name of God’, was so captivating in the 19th century that an array of Western painters became fascinated by its distinctive glamour, such as the embankment in Praia Grande and the scenes at the fishing port.
English painter George Chinnery (1774–1852) came to Macao in 1825 and was regarded as the most influential Western painter in the South China coastal areas in the 19th century. Local people’s lives and the city’s landscape, such as fisherwomen, fishing boats, street pedlars, churches and the scenery in Praia Grande, were all captured in his works. It was his fascination with Macao that lured him to spend his later years in the city. British merchant William Prinsep (1794–1874) learned painting under Chinnery in his spare time and developed almost identical brushwork to that of his mentor.
In 1839, French painter Auguste Borget (1808–1877) sojourned in Macao for 10 months and found himself fascinated by the small city such that the streets and alleys, traditions and customs all became the subject matter of his works. During Borget’s stay in Macao, Chinnery sketched a portrait of Borget and exchanged paintings with him.
Scottish physician Thomas Boswell Watson (1815–1860) arrived in Macao in 1845 and served as a doctor, apprentice and dear friend to Chinnery. His painting style was deeply influenced by Chinnery but he still managed to retain his own personal characteristics in his works.
Born in Macao, Macanese Marciano António Baptista (1826–1896) was also Chinnery’s apprentice and learned to paint under his mentor during his early years. Later, he developed a unique painting style in watercolours and sketches after unconsciously absorbing the essence of Chinese traditional arts.
These artists were greatly inspired by Macao after they set foot in the city. After nearly two centuries, we can still feel their sentiments and memories of Macao in their works. Their footprints spread across the city’s scenic spots and fascinating areas. This section includes over 60 selected paintings featuring Macao’s customs and landscape in the 19th century in the forms of oil paintings, watercolours, pencil and pen drawings, and prints. With these works, we can hold on to the images and memories of Macao’s past.