Top of the Wall From Anting Gate, Pekin, Taken Possession by English and French Troops, October 1860

1860

Felice Beato

Associated Names
Felice Beato

Artist, British, born Venice, 1832 - 1909

The image shows a bird's-eye view looking down along a fortified wall that extends into the distance, disappearing near the horizon. The horizon is positioned high in the composition, with the wall dominating the scene. On the right side of the wall, there are towering poles, while to the left, rows of traditional-style buildings align parallel with the wall, creating a street-like appearance. The wall, structures, and open land feature a desaturated, vintage color palette of sepia tones. The scene includes areas touched by diffused sunlight and shadows cast by the wall and surrounding architecture. In the background, a mix of natural and architectural elements continues with no distinct features breaking the flat horizon, depicting an expansive landscape.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Michael and Jane Wilson

  • Dimensions

    image: 23.5 × 29 cm (9 1/4 × 11 7/16 in.)
    mount: 24.8 × 31.1 cm (9 3/4 × 12 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.137.1.11

  • Volume Title

    The Second Opium War


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, Christie's, South Kensington, 05 May 2000, lot 302, as The Second Opium War China, 1860); Michael and Jane Wilson, Wilson Centre for Photography, London, acquired 2000; gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso of mount, by unknown hand, along top in black ink on paper label: Top of the Wall from Anting Gate. Pekin. Taken possession by English and / French Troops - October 21st 1860.; bottom right in graphite: 00:6693

Wikidata ID

Q64147556

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