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The drawings and illustrations of William Alexander shaped the European image of Chinese culture until the 20th century. China, and especially the Chinese Imperial Palace, became places of longing on the one hand, and on the other hand the targets of concrete economic hopes. The strangeness of Chinese culture fascinated Alexander's contemporaries, and many hopes for unimaginable economic profit in the Middle Kingdom captivated the imagination. The projections lived from the mysterious that surrounded Chinese culture. Little information reached Europe, as the empire shut itself off from the outside world and looked with contempt at the rest of the world. In 1792, a British government expedition set out for the Forbidden City with the aim of moving the Middle Kingdom to the British Empire for trade relations. The 25-year-old budding draughtsman and painter William Alexander was given the chance of a lifetime and was commissioned as assistant to the painter Thomas Hickey to provide artistic guidance for the expedition. Williams had been selected for an art education in London at the age of 15 because of his talent and had attracted the attention of the royal court painter and president of the Royal Academy Joshua Reynolds at the Royal Academy Schools. He accompanied the art education of the young student and supported him. On Reynolds' recommendation, Williams was finally accepted into the artistic staff of the political expedition to China.
During the two-year journey and the stay in China Williams took over the artistic leadership in the escort team, because the designated Thomas Hickey with psychological problems became a total failure, who did not manage to produce any drawings and illustrations in the whole time. The young Williams, on the other hand, went through the foreign world of the Chinese Empire with open eyes and became a chronicler of the foreign with thousands of drawings. Williams found himself confronted with a culture that claimed to be economically, technologically and intellectually far superior. The Middle Kingdom was at the height of its power in the Quing Dynasty at the end of the 18th century and ruled over an area that extended far beyond the borders of present-day China. With over 300 million inhabitants, the emperor ruled over an empire that went beyond the imagination of the Europeans.
The Macartney expedition became a complete failure because, among other things, the British envoy refused to make the ceremonial gesture of submission, the kowtow, before the Emperor. The 2000 drawings of Chinese culture and everyday life in the Middle Kingdom were used as illustrations for the official travelogues after the expedition's return in 1794 and achieved outstanding popularity in Great Britain and throughout Europe. Between 1798 and 1814, three illustrated books were published, based on the drawings. The splendour and pomp of the imperial court, the people and the culture were reproduced by Williams in detail and true to life, without the colonial sense of superiority and posturing of other artists.
The drawings and illustrations of William Alexander shaped the European image of Chinese culture until the 20th century. China, and especially the Chinese Imperial Palace, became places of longing on the one hand, and on the other hand the targets of concrete economic hopes. The strangeness of Chinese culture fascinated Alexander's contemporaries, and many hopes for unimaginable economic profit in the Middle Kingdom captivated the imagination. The projections lived from the mysterious that surrounded Chinese culture. Little information reached Europe, as the empire shut itself off from the outside world and looked with contempt at the rest of the world. In 1792, a British government expedition set out for the Forbidden City with the aim of moving the Middle Kingdom to the British Empire for trade relations. The 25-year-old budding draughtsman and painter William Alexander was given the chance of a lifetime and was commissioned as assistant to the painter Thomas Hickey to provide artistic guidance for the expedition. Williams had been selected for an art education in London at the age of 15 because of his talent and had attracted the attention of the royal court painter and president of the Royal Academy Joshua Reynolds at the Royal Academy Schools. He accompanied the art education of the young student and supported him. On Reynolds' recommendation, Williams was finally accepted into the artistic staff of the political expedition to China.
During the two-year journey and the stay in China Williams took over the artistic leadership in the escort team, because the designated Thomas Hickey with psychological problems became a total failure, who did not manage to produce any drawings and illustrations in the whole time. The young Williams, on the other hand, went through the foreign world of the Chinese Empire with open eyes and became a chronicler of the foreign with thousands of drawings. Williams found himself confronted with a culture that claimed to be economically, technologically and intellectually far superior. The Middle Kingdom was at the height of its power in the Quing Dynasty at the end of the 18th century and ruled over an area that extended far beyond the borders of present-day China. With over 300 million inhabitants, the emperor ruled over an empire that went beyond the imagination of the Europeans.
The Macartney expedition became a complete failure because, among other things, the British envoy refused to make the ceremonial gesture of submission, the kowtow, before the Emperor. The 2000 drawings of Chinese culture and everyday life in the Middle Kingdom were used as illustrations for the official travelogues after the expedition's return in 1794 and achieved outstanding popularity in Great Britain and throughout Europe. Between 1798 and 1814, three illustrated books were published, based on the drawings. The splendour and pomp of the imperial court, the people and the culture were reproduced by Williams in detail and true to life, without the colonial sense of superiority and posturing of other artists.
.jpg "The Punishment of the Bastinado by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Porto Praya in the Island of St. Jago, plate 4 from")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1106789).jpg "Chinese Servants Bearing a Palanquin by William Alexander")
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 1793 - (MeisterDrucke-82583).jpg "The Approach of the Emperor of China to his Tent in Tartary to Receive the British Ambassador, George, 1st Earl Macartney by William Alexander")
 1793 - (MeisterDrucke-82583).jpg)
.jpg "Emperor of China")
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.jpg "A Chinese Comedian, illustration from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-166243).jpg "A Quan or Mandarin Bearing a Letter from the Emperor of China, 1796 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Poo Ta La, or Great Temple of Fo, near Zehol, Tibet, China by William Alexander")
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.jpg "View near Turon Bay, Cochin China by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Chinese Carrier with His Sail-Set Barrow by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Samoyed woman with her baby and a cradle from Dress of the Russians, 1814 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A group of Chinese watching the Earl Macartney")
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.jpg "A Village Street, Figures by Old Cottages by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Emperor Receiving the Embassy; Macartney")
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.jpg "A Pipe-Bearer, Attendant on the Mandarin by William Alexander")
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_-_Rijstmolen_door_een_waterrad_aangedrevenEen_Rijstmolen_(title_on_object)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1365302).jpg "Rice Mill Driven by a Water Wheel by Daniël Veelwaard (I)")
_-_Rijstmolen_door_een_waterrad_aangedrevenEen_Rijstmolen_(title_on_object)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1365302).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-559093).jpg "Chinese Labourers Working on a River by William Alexander")
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 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-208803).jpg "Scene in a Cochin-Chinese Opera, plate 13 from")
 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-208803).jpg)
.jpg "The Emperor of China Receiving the Embassy of Lord Macartney by William Alexander")
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.jpg "An Offering of First Fruits to the God Fo, plate 16 from")
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.jpg "WD 959 section 2 f.104 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Boat in Cochin China, from an Album of 372 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1113963).jpg "Chinese Labourer at Work by William Alexander")
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.jpg "The Emperor of China receiving the Ambassador at Jehol, Tartary by William Alexander")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1420639).jpg "Man in Chinese Costume by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Arcos de Carioco, or Grand Aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro, plate 5 from")
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.jpg "Seated Chinese Man Smoking by William Alexander")
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 Embassy - (MeisterDrucke-548113).jpg "Chinese Observing the British (Lord Macartney")
 Embassy - (MeisterDrucke-548113).jpg)
.jpg "A Quan or Mandarin Bearing a Letter from the Emperor of China, Engraved by Wilson, Published by G. Nicol by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A Chinese porter by William Alexander")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-319439).jpg "Boats on the River at Suchow, China by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Friendly Cove, Nootka Sound, Vancouver")
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 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-161463).jpg "The Calvinistic Church in Batavia by William Alexander")
 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-161463).jpg)
.jpg "The Fou-yen of Canton by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Plans, Sections and Elevations of the Great Wall of China, and some of the Towers, near the Pass of Cou-Pe-Keou, engraved by Joseph Baker, pub. by G. Nicol, 1796 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "View of the Tchin Shan, or Golden Island, in the Yang-tse Kiang, or Great River of China, engraved by Wilson, pub. by G. Nicol by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Sea vessel under sail by William Alexander")
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.jpg "The approach of the Emperor of China to his tent in Tartary to receive the British Ambassador, 1799 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A Junk, from an Album of 372 Drawings of Landscapes, Coastlines, Costumes and Everyday Life by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A Chinese Warrior by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Pringze Men, the Western Gate of Peking by William Alexander")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1118772).jpg "Chinese Fishermen in a Junk by William Alexander")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1118772).jpg)
.jpg "Emperor")
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.jpg "Fort Opposite the Factory, Canton by William Alexander")
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.jpg "View Near the City of Tientsin by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Cochin Chinese, from an Album of 372 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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.jpg "Sophia, Princess Palatine of the Rhine by William Alexander")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-253835).jpg "Chinese Fishermen with Cormorants by William Alexander")
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.jpg "The Junks We Sailed in from Sin-chung, from an Album of 372 Drawings of Landscapes, Coastlines, Costumes and Everyday Life by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A group of Chinese on the bank of a river, watching the Earl Macartney")
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.jpg "WD 959 section 1 f.94, Tchien Lung, Emperor of China, c1793. Portrait of the Emperor Ch")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1122966).jpg "Chinese Galley by William Alexander")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1122966).jpg)
.jpg "Man")
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.jpg "Female Tattooed by William Alexander")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1420544).jpg "Chinese Figures (One an Archer) by William Alexander")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1420544).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-559090).jpg "Mandarin with Pipe Bearer, 1795 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "City of Lin Tsin, Shantung, with a view of the grand canal by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Chinese Barges of the Embassy Passing Through a Sluice of the Grand Canal, engraved by Benjamin Thomas Pouncy, pub. by G. Nicol, 1796 by William Alexander")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-55041).jpg "View of Golden Mountain Island in the Blue River, China, c.1794 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A Funeral Procession by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Indian Village, Point Mudge by William Alexander")
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 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-159280).jpg "View of Santa Cruz, plate 3 from")
 engraved by Thomas Medland (1755-1823) 1806 (aquatint) - (MeisterDrucke-159280).jpg)
.jpg "Plate 154 Macartney")
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.jpg "Barges of Lord Macartney")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-559091).jpg "Chinese Sailor Smoking in his Junk, 1795 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Village of Friendly Indians, at the Entrance of Bute")
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.jpg "View of a Castle by William Alexander")
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.jpg "WD 959 section 2 f.3 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Portraits of sea vessels by William Alexander")
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.jpg "The Village of Almandral in the Bay of Valparaiso, with View of the Andes by William Alexander")
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.jpg "View of Sydney from the East Side of the Cove by William Alexander")
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.jpg "A mark of extraordinary favour, silk purse given to George Thomas Staunton from Emperor Kien Lung, from an Album of 372 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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.jpg "View of Yang-tcheou by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Two Chinese Figures: A Seller of Hats and a Man Sitting Cross-Legged, Smoking a Pipe by William Alexander")
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.jpg "St. Bartholomew")
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.jpg "Sacrifice at the temple by William Alexander")
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.jpg "WD 960 f.41 plate 129 by William Alexander")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-548110).jpg "Waltham Cross, 1812 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Boats, from an Album of 372 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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.jpg "WD 959 section 2 f.098 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Figure studies. Album of 278 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-78233).jpg "View near the City of Tientsin, 1800 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "WD 959 section 2 f.117 by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Two men of")
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.jpg "Chinese figure study, from an Album of 372 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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.jpg "Benjamin - a Slave purchased by Sir G. Staunton at Batavia. Album of 278 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney")
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.jpg "Punishment of the Cangue by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Chinese Military Post on the River Eu Ho by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Remarkable Supported Poles, in Port Townsend, Gulf of Georgia by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Week Street, Maidstone by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Port Dick, Near Cook")
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.jpg "Young man leaning against a tree; a boat.")
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.jpg "A View of the Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Peking (detail) by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Cat, figure and list of Alexander")
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.jpg "WD 959 Section 2 f.106v by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Bishops Palace, Wells Cathedral by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Boatman of Turon Bay, from an Album of 372 Drawings of Landscapes, Coastlines, Costumes and Everyday Life by William Alexander")
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.jpg "Trackers in rainy weather, from an Album of 278 drawings of landscapes, coastlines, costumes and everyday life made during Lord Macartney"){kind=tracking}
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.jpg "Examination of a culprit by William Alexander")
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