Chinese Burying Place, near the Yellow River c1810.

by William Alexander, F.A.S.

Antique print of Yellow River Chinese Burial Place. This is an idyllic scene of a historic place, from a well-chosen viewpoint.

Original fine copperplate engraving c1810 by great English etcher and engraver, George Cooke (1781-1834), after a drawing by William Alexander, F.A.S. (1767-1816), who was the only English artist to travel around central China in the later eighteenth century. Published in London on May 1st, 1810, by Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme. Born in Maidstone, Kent in south-east England, Alexander became a student at the royal Academy in 1784. In 1792, when just 25, he was given an opportunity of a lifetime when he was chosen to accompany Lord Macartney's embassy to China as a junior draughtsman. As the principal appointed artist appears to have had no artistic work from the journey published, William Alexander's beautiful records of the region became particularly important.

Page size is 200 x 260mm (8 1/8 x 10 1/4 inches). To exterior of engraved border measures 137 x 213mm (5 3/8 x 8 3/8 inches). Although the top margin is not large, this page is in good condition considering its age.