Studio: international art (80.1920)

GEORGE CHINNERY, R.H.A.

" ITINERANT CHINESE BLACK-
SMITH." OIL-PAINTING
BY GEORGE CHINNERY

nery a Canton est encore bien vive. II y est
tres bien connu parmi les peintres a l'huile.
Dans^un grand magasin de photographie,
ou je suis entre pour voir une peinture de
Chinnery, on m'a remarque qu'elle n'etait
pas la pour etre vendue mais pour etre
etudiee par les peintres, c'est de 'Chinnalee'
(c'etait un portrait de femme anglaise ou
americaine.)" 0 0 0 0 *
Chinnery's work in China has a certain
monotony, for he painted the same indi-
viduals and the same scenes and types of
Chinese life many times albeit with some
difference in detail. His best work is pro-
bably to be found in charming scenes of

Chinese life, for his great delight was in
sketching ; every morning of fine weather
attracted him out at dawn, and his vigorous
sketches in both pen and ink and pencil are
masterly drawings. Some of his portraits
in oil are remarkably good, though it
is said, not always faithful likenesses,
while others are evidently painted without
any artistic effort and most probably to
produce the money required at the moment.
His landscapes, and small marine views
are especially attractive, whether in oil or
water-colour. A favourite subject was the
sampan girl or boat woman with the black
trousers, blue tunic, and red kerchief over

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