A Mandarin official, Late Qing China. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1869
Reference:
19552i
  • Pictures

Selected images from this work

View 2 images

About this work

Description

A man, with a moustache, seated by the same round-arched windows as in Thomson's negative number 652 and 654, looking at camera. In Imperial China, a bureaucrat who entered his office through imperial examinations was called a Mandarin. There were two types of Mandarin: those who held civil office, and those awarded a military one. They were then graded into nine ranks, and were distinguished by the robe and hat they wore. It was said that during the Qing, a Mandarin in public must always present himself in a stiff posture and speak in a very formal language. For many Europeans, this 'outer semblance of virtue and integrity' was thought to be rather awkward

Publication/Creation

1869

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion ; glass approximately 25.5 x 20.5 cm (10 x 8 in.)

Lettering

Chinese mandarin 10 Bears Thomson's negative number: "653"

Notes

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

References note

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 23 (reproduced)

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19552i

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    By appointmentManual request

    Note

Permanent link