Interior and Arches of the Temple of Heaven Where the Emperor Sacrifices Once a Year, in the Chinese City of Pekin, October 1860

1860

Felice Beato

Associated Names
Felice Beato

Artist, British, born Venice, 1832 - 1909

The image shows an elevated view of a traditional Chinese architectural complex. A treeline obscures the horizon and separates the sky from the buildings below. A stone balustrade leads to rectangular gateways, attracting attention towards a tiered-roof pavilion. The architecture features intricate carvings. The color palette is sepia, enhancing the aged feel. In the distance, more structures and trees surround the main pavilion.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Michael and Jane Wilson

  • Dimensions

    image: 23.2 × 28.7 cm (9 1/8 × 11 5/16 in.)
    mount: 24.7 × 30.8 cm (9 3/4 × 12 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.137.1.16

  • 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: Interior and Arches of the Temple of Heaven where the Emperor sacrifices once / a year in the Chinese City. Pekin October 1860.; bottom left in graphite: 00:6693

Wikidata ID

Q64147561

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