Garden scene

Before 1840 trade between China and Europe was the monopoly of a dozen or so merchants in Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China, known as 'hong merchants'. Some of them lived in big mansions with magnificent gardens, in which they entertained their foreign customers. So much was written or spoken about these gardens that eventually every European or American visiting Canton would make an effort to see them. Paintings such as this were produced for those who did not have the opportunity to make a personal visit.