IMAGES, TEXTS & INK
0111 Among the many sensational accounts of French plunder appearing in the British press after the 180 conflict is this reprint from Journal du Havre, which mentions an edition of Confucius:
china–THE FRENCH BOOTY.–The following appears in the Journal du Havre:–‘With regard to the booty made in China, inestimable conquests, in an artistical and historical point of view, are spoken of. The part acquired by France would alone suffice for the formation of an immense Chinese museum. Among other things mentioned is a clock, of wonderful workmanship, with carved figures representing the seasons; all the wardrobe of the Empress of China, &c. There has also fallen to the lot of the French an edition of Confucius, which belonged to the celebrated Emperor Kag-Di, the Napoleon I of the Chinese, and having notes in his handwriting. Among the other objects found in the summer palace, and which are in parts reserved for France, is an elephant of natural size, in gilt and enamelled bronze, and most magnificent.’ (1 January 1861, Kentish Gazette, p. 8.)
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0085 While the allied armies were particularly taken with lucrative treasure in the form of jewelery, porcelain and enamels that they found in the Yuanmingyuan, they also discovered documents of historical interest at the estate:
‘The French have found in the summer palace of the Emperor of China the correspondence of Father Gerbillon,* a celebrated French ecclesiastic, who was, in 1687, one of the private secretaries of the Emperor Kang-shi, and who published books of science in the Chinese language for the use and benefit of the learned Chinese.’ (11 January 1861, Newcastle Courant, p. 2.)
* Jean-François Gerbillon (1654–1707).
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0079 Accounts of the destruction of the Yuanmingyuan after the war often downplayed the extent of the damage, as in this Morning Post notice [duplicated in numerous publications], which maintains that copies of all volumes in the library were extant in Chinese collections:
“It appears that only a very few of the fine collection of books in the Imperial library of the Summer Palace have been saved by Mr. Wade. Fortunately for themselves, the Chinese have three or four duplicates of this collection; so that in burning the Summer Palace Library the loss has chiefly been our own.” (14 June 1861, Morning Post, p. 5.)
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0077 In 1861 British newspapers reported that Gen. Montauban, head of French forces during the 1860 war, had presented to Napoleon III, Emperor of France, a group of views of the Summer Palace engraved by missionaries. The following report appeared in numerous publications:
‘The Emperor has placed in the library of the Palace of Compiègne an album presented to him by General Montauban. It gives views of the Summer Palace of the Emperor of China, engraved by the missionaries. This album is composed of twenty engravings pasted on cardboard, with margins of silk, and is enclosed in a box, on which a number of Chinese characters are traced. When the Summer Palace was taken possession of by the allied troops, this album fell to the lot of the French commander-in-chief.’ (19 November 1861, Sheffield Independent, p. 3.)
This renowned album is today known to be in the Bibliothèque Nationale. Images from the album are featured in Lillian M. Li’s excellent online study of the site: The Garden of Perfect Brightness–1 Yuanmingyuan as Imperial Paradise (1700-1860), at: http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/garden_perfect_brightness/ymy1_essay03.html
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0100 A Rifle Volunteer bazaar took place at Derby in the spring of 1862. At the bazaar, ‘Captain C.H. Cox, of the 60th Royal Rifles, exhibited some interesting historical pictures taken from the library of the Emperor’s Summer Palace; Chinese carving from Canton; Lotus Joss from the Summer Palace at Pekin; a lady’s dressing case taken from a harem of Hosi Who, China; seals, China lacquer. &c., &c.’ (15 April 1862, Nottinghamshire Guardian, p. 5.) This is the same C.H. Cox who lent enamels to the 1862 Great Exhibition. [0107 also listed under enamels.]
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0078 In 1865 Hewett & Co. displayed at the Dublin International Exhibition: ‘manuscript books looted from the empress’s apartment at the palace of the Yueso-ming-Yuen, by a French officer’. Dublin International Exhibition 1865 Official Catalogue, p. 82–83.)
0078 在 1865 年，Hewett & Co. 公司 在 都伯林 国际 展览 中 展 示 了 ：‘被 一 个 法国 军官 从 圆明园 中 皇后 的 宫殿 里 夺走 的 书稿。（1865 年 都伯林 国际 展览 官方 展览目录， 八 十二 页。
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0080 The following 25 items were included in the catalogue of Capitaine Negroni’s collection of plunder from the Yuanmingyuan, exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1865:
p. 42
387. A large cake of Chinese ink, having the imperial seal.
p. 43
399. A picture representing an Empress in state robes, painted on silk, wove in a similar manner to that of the Ghobelin tapestry, so that the texture assists in forming the design. This sort of work is called ke-see in China, and was invented nearly two thousand years since, at a small town in the province of Pe-tchi-li Sou-tche-cu, which has long been celebrated for its products of art and industry.
400. A picture of the same sort, but of finer workmanship, representing landscapes and domestic life in the river boats. These and the following were the only ones placed in the museum of the palace, and are among the most curious objects in this collection.
401. A picture similar to the above.
402. A very curious history of the immortal Confucius, said to be composed in the time of this philosopher. It treats of his private, religious, and moral life, and the incidents are beautifully depicted on a most marvellous silken tissue.
403. A domestic scene in the country, giving a capital pictorial description of Chinese customs and manners. It is also painted on silk. At each end is a Chinese manuscript, believed to be a romance or poem.
404. Two pictures on silk, representing a river scene. The colours are little varied, neutral tints being mainly employed.
405. A mountain scene of the same character.
406. A mountain scene, also painted on silk.
407. A Chinese landscape on the same material.
p. 44
408. An allegorical scene, in which the sea dragon and various mystical personages are introduced.
409. A finely coloured picture, representing the worship of the goddess Fo-ki.
410. An engraving, the capture of a town by Tartar soldiers.
411. A similar subject.
412. Painting of water lilies.
413. Religious ceremonies in honor of Buddha, who is represented amidst clouds, and guarded by the sacred dragon.
414. A fête in honor of the Emperor, who appears surrounded by the ladies of his court.
415. A winter scene among the Tartary mountains. This description of painting is done by the finger, no pencil being employed.
416. A lover’s first sight.
417. A secret visit.
418. The wife’s arrival.
419. An horticultural work, published by the Emperor Keing Tchitou, in 1680. A million copies were stated to have been distributed gratuitously; it is bound in wood.
420. A pictorial album, representing historical subjects and landscapes.
421. An ancient album of flowers and birds, painted on silk.
422. An illustrated Chinese poem.
423. A fisherman’s album.
(See Catalogue of Captain de Negroni's Collection of Porcelain, Jade, Jewels, Silks, Furs, Stones, &c., from Yuen-Min-Yuen, (The Summer Palace) Pekin, London: McCorquodale & Co. 1865, pp. 42-44.) The collection was sold through Messrs. Foster in June 1866. (16 June 1866, Birmingham Gazette, p. 4.)
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0167 When an exhibition of fine arts took place at the Public Hall in Lowestoft in 1874, a Mrs. Small lent a ‘plan of the Summer Palace at Pekin...’ (7 March 1874, The Ipswich Journal, p. 9.) 26 February 2016.
中文:
一八七 四 年，在 洛斯托夫特 公共 展馆 一个 画展上，Small [小] 夫人 捐赠 了一 张 北京圆明园 地图。 (一八七四年三月七日, 伊普斯维奇 报纸， 第九 页。）
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0169 In 1874 the Leeds Mercury reported on manuscripts recently acquired by the British Museum. Among the accessions was:
‘a poetical account of the Chinese conquest of Nepaul in A.D. 1790, written by the Emperor of China—a folio volume enclosed in curiously carved wooden covers. It is from the Summer Palace, near Pekin. The entire text is embroidered in red silk on blue ground, it is said, by the ladies of the Imperial family.’ (13 May 1874, Leeds Mercury, p. 7.) 26 February 2016.
中文:
1874 年 Leeds Mercury 报道 了 大英博物馆 最近 获得 的 书稿。 其中 一 件 是： 一 本 装 在 不寻常 雕饰 的 木 制 套 内 的 对 开 本 记 载 了 由 中国 皇帝 写 的 关于1790 年 中国 征服 尼泊 尔 的 一 段 诗意 叙 述 。 它 出自 北京 圆明园 。 整 篇 文 章 以 红 丝 线 锈 在 蓝 布 背景 上。 据 说 这 是 由 宫廷女眷 绣 的。(一八七四 年 五 月 十三 日，利兹 墨丘利，第 七 页。）
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0119 A small wood-bound book of landscape paintings at the National Army Museum, London, titled Famous Views in Wu-Lin' Vol 2 (inv. no. 1963-10-290-1), bears the following handwritten inscription inside the front cover:
‘I found this in the Summer Palace near Pekin 1860.
Wolesley’
The NAM has attributed the paintings to Dong Gao (1740-1818). It may be viewed online at:
http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1963-10-290-1
See also: K. Hill, ‘Collecting on Campaign: British Soldiers in China During the Opium Wars,’ Journal of the History of Collections, vol. 25, no. 2, 2013.
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All material on this page, unless otherwise credited, was produced by Kate Hill, who asserts her authorship of the work. © Kate Hill, Yuanmingyuan Artefact Index, 2016.