Mss Eur G45/6, ff.73-78

Six drawings depicting a Chinese soldier, boats, birds, fruit and a butterfly.

By a Canton artist, c.1825.

Water-colour on pith-paper; approx. 6.75 by 10.5 ins.

Deposited on permanent loan by Captain K. Oliver-Bellasis, 10 September 1960.

Note: These drawings are mounted in a scrapbook relating to the childhood of Augustus Fortunatus Bellasis (1822-72), son of Lieut. Col. Daniell Hutchins Bellasis. According to a slip pasted on f.72, inscribed: ‘For Fortunatus Augustus Bellasis with Cousin John’s love,’ they were given to him by his cousin, John Brownrigg Bellasis (1806-90), who served with the Bombay Army from 1822 to 1858. Augustus was born in India and went home with his parents to England in 1827. For the Bellasis family, see the collections of drwings under the various members of the family; and also Margaret Bellasis, ‘Honourable Company’ (London, 1952).

The present drawings were probably amongst the Chinese paintings to which John Bellasis refers in his journal of 1829. He notes: ‘Uncle Dan took home a nice collection (of drawings) and some China ones’. Chinese pictures appear to have been imported into Bombay, for a little later he writes: ‘I have just received some things from China for Helen and Charlotte’, and ‘Crosby has lately been down to Bombay and is bringing up my China pictures. The baggage pony sat down in the water crossing a stream on the road, and it has caused the rice paper to crack a good deal - but they are not much worse and are curious as being painted by a Chinese’.

f.73 Dragon Boat.

f.74 Chinese soldier with a musket on his shoulder and a shield and helmet on his back.

f.75 Two Porphyrios or purple moorhens ‘(Porphyrio porphyrio).’

f.76 A pair of Mandarin ducks ‘(Aix galericulata)’ amongst lotuses.

f.77 Fruit and butterfly.

f.78 Junk.