Plate 7: Two Boys, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Sixth plate 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 two Chinese boys. One of them, standing, wears a tunic with three-quarter length, wide sleeves, with patterns made up of triangles, lozenges, circles, and semi-abstract flowers, and holding a stick with a bird perched on it. The other, kneeling, wears a long-sleeved jumpsuit with a pattern of sunbursts and semi-abstract rosettes, and extending his left arm towards the right, where a dragon stands, his mouth open. Both boys have queues on their heads.
