[Group Portrait near Fangguangyan Monastery, Fujian]
Around 1869, Lai Fong was invited by foreign residents of Fuzhou to record a private excursion by boat to the Fangguangyan Monastery, a “hanging temple” known for its spectacular location and design. Lai posed the group for photographs at several spots along the route.
The rather illustrious expedition party included Charles Sinclair, the British Consult of Fuzhou, who sits on the stool at left; Sinclair’s wife, who leans against the rock wall; Baron de Méritens, an Imperial Maritime Customs Service commissioner, who perches on a rock at center; Prosper Giquel, Director of the Fuzhou Arsenal, who stands by Sinclair’s wife; and Francis Temple, an accountant at the Shanghai branch of the Oriental Bank, who is stretched out informally in the foreground. The man adopting a similar pose in the background remains unidentified.
[Yuhua Ding and Kate Addleman-Frankel]
The rather illustrious expedition party included Charles Sinclair, the British Consult of Fuzhou, who sits on the stool at left; Sinclair’s wife, who leans against the rock wall; Baron de Méritens, an Imperial Maritime Customs Service commissioner, who perches on a rock at center; Prosper Giquel, Director of the Fuzhou Arsenal, who stands by Sinclair’s wife; and Francis Temple, an accountant at the Shanghai branch of the Oriental Bank, who is stretched out informally in the foreground. The man adopting a similar pose in the background remains unidentified.
[Yuhua Ding and Kate Addleman-Frankel]
Artwork Details
- Title: [Group Portrait near Fangguangyan Monastery, Fujian]
- Artist: Lai Afong (Chinese, 1839–1890)
- Date: ca. 1869
- Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative
- Dimensions: Image: 7 3/16 × 9 1/2 in. (18.2 × 24.1 cm)
- Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Gilman Collection, Purchase, Robert Rosenkranz Gift, 2005
- Object Number: 2005.100.494.39
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1869
Lai Afong
John Thomson
ca. 1869
Lai Afong
John Thomson
ca. 1869
Lai Afong
ca. 1869
Lai Afong
John Thomson
ca. 1869
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.