22/6/2005 - 29/8/2005

Special Exhibition Gallery,
Hong Kong Museum of History

George Chinnery (1774-1852) was undoubtedly the most outstanding and influential European artist who came to the East in the 19th century. Born in England, Chinnery commenced his journey to the East in 1802. He stayed in the British India for over two decades, and arrived in the South China coast in 1825. He spent half his life in the East and his last years in Macau. In the early 19th century, Chinnery paid visits to Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau from time to time, and produced a rich repertoire of artworks on a wide range of subjects with his signature style. Chinnery's works could serve for both artistic appreciation and visual documentation of the Pearl River Delta, exemplifying the communication and cultural exchange between East and West.

In this exhibition, a selection of more than 180 Chinnery's masterpieces in oils, watercolours and sketches are featured to outline the artist's career and to highlight his artistic styles. Artifacts and maps are also displayed to portray the historical context of the artworks, thus making this exhibition a dynamic interplay of art and history, the artist and his times.