Circa 1822

Watercolour on paper

29.2 by 19.2 cm.

This rare watercolour relates to a printed image used in a publication giving an account of the British mission to the court of Siam and Cochin China of 1822 undertaken by the then Governor-General of India, John Crawfurd. The account was taken from the journal of George Finlayson, the surgeon and naturalist to the mission and published in 1826 after Finlayson’s death.

The printed image was also used in Crawfurd’s own account of the mission, published in 1828, which sought to rebuff some of the Finlayson’s criticisms of Crawfurds approach to dealings with the Thai court. The mission had hoped to negotiate access to trade in Siam with the King but Crawfurd’s overly deferential manner with him was considered by Finlayson to have brought a lack of respect for the British officials from the Thai court. The French, in contrast, had already achieved access to trade with Siam, in the opinion of some, by their complete indifference to Thai court etiquette.

The temple buildings across the river have been tentatively identified as Wigan Yot, built by King Rama III, and part of Wat Phra Haew, the temple of the emerald Buddha.

The printed version gives as artist of the original drawing the initials ‘H.A.C.’ but this artist has yet to be identified in full, though presumably a member of the 1822 mission.