Peking, Pechili province, China. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.
- Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
- Date:
- 1869
- Reference:
- 19636i
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- Online
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Three men, two older with beards, one younger with a moustache, sitting in a garden. A building behind them to the left, a rockery to the right. The men are three Chinese Ministers at the Office of Foreign Affairs in the late Qing: (left to right) Shen Guifeng, Dong Xun and Mao Changxi. A native of Jiangsu, Shen Guifeng (1818-1881) was best known for his anti-opium policy and for his contributions to the state-run modernizing movement – the 'yangwu movement'. In this portrait, Thomson intended to show that Chinese officials did not spend their time in idleness and luxury; rather, they led laborious lives and dressed in simple robes. But more importantly, for him these three individuals 'were as fine-looking men as ever our own Cabinet can boast. All of them had an air of quiet, dignified repose'
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glass negative no. 694
Location Status Access Closed stores19636i.1By appointment Manual request Note
glass negative no. 694 b
Location Status Access Closed stores19636i.2By appointment Manual request Note