Plate 47: Fishing with Birds, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 47 of 'A New Book of Chinese Designs', consisting of a title page, index, and 120 plates, etched and published in 1754 by the British caricaturist, printseller and ornamental engraver Matthew Darly, in collaboration with George Edwards. The book consists of a variety of ornamental and costume designs of Chinese inspiration, some of them copies of the original works (including the title).
This plate represents a fishing scene with birds. On the center, a man stands on a boat, holding a long bamboo cane on which are perched four birds. In front of him are two more canes, also with birds perched on them, while on the back, at the other end of the boat, stands another man, fishing. Two other boats with people engaging in similar activities are seen in the distance. Another boat is on the foreground, with a man holding a bird in his hands, and another man, kneeling, holding a bucket in front of him. Another man stands next to the bushes on the right, fishing. Two birds are flying on the center of the scene. In the background, mountains and elevated houses are seen.
