Painting
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- 8 days ago
- In this state since
- Sep 25, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the painting
This painting is from a set of 11 depicting women playing different kinds of Chinese musical instruments. The seated woman is playing the 'sheng' – a reed instrument – while her companion creates the rhythm by cracking two pairs of small cups.
Artists in Canton (Guangzhou), in southern China, made such paintings for Europeans eager to find out more about China and its people. In the 18th century Canton became the principal – and later the only – trading port at which Europeans were permitted to buy Chinese goods.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- 9290:6
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 8 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
