View of the Chinese Grand Canal.

Sailing ships and barges in a canal, with figures sitting on the banks on both sides, lake on the left and cottages under trees on the right. Signed with initials at bottom right and annotated in pencil on verso: 'Canal & Lake. Oct.r 1793'. Pasted on mount with washlines. Described as 'A View on the Grand Canal where it is carried along the side of a large lake and divided from it by a strong embankment of earth. At this place the bargemen were busily employed in getting down the large single masts and erecting others consisting of two pieces which by turning on swivels can be instantly struck so as to permit the barges to pass under the arches of bridges'. [A collection of eighty views, maps, portraits and drawings illustrative of the Embassy sent to China under George, Earl of Macartney, in 1793; drawn chiefly by William Alexander, some by Sir John Barrow, Bart, some by Sir Henry Woodbine Parish, and one by William Gomm. Many of them are engraved in Sir George Staunton's Narrative of the Embassy, published in 1797.] Author: Alexander, William / Illustrator: Alexander, William [1793-1794]. Source/Shelfmark: Maps 8.Tab.C.8.4 1 drawing: watercolour; sheet 30.1 x 46.8 cm, on support 38.7 x 54.9 cm