Paintings

A charming painting of HMS Plover. In the foreground lies the ship and a sampan and in the background a fleet of ships before Victoria and the Peak. The painting is inscribed, " The Plover commanded by Lieutenant Wynniatt lying in Hong Kong Harbour". The British naval officer, Lieutenant Robert James Wynniatt was promoted to Commander on 18th July 1859.

Lieutenant William Hector RASON - Royal Navy - killed 25th June 1859 Memorial at St Mary's Church, Eastbourne, East Sussex - "Sacred to the memory of William Hector Rason, Lieut R.N. aged 26; who gallantly fell under the Batteries of the Peiho; 25th June 1859, when in command of the 'Plover' Gun Boat; sunk in Action carrying the Admiral's flag. This monument/is erected by his Brother officers in token of their admiration of his conspicuous gallantry and moral worth. HMS Plover was a screw gunboat of 232 tons built in 1856. She arrived in Hong Kong in 1859 and was sunk in action at the entrance of the Peiho River, China in the same year.

Known English artists working in Hong Kong at this time include Charles Wirgman and Richard Leitch for the Illustrated London News. Also the soldier artist, Henry Hope Crealock and Frederick Bedwell, who was on board HMS Actaeon making a survey of the China Coast. Richard Leitch was sent out to Hong Kong and China in 1857as a special artist for the Illustrated London News. He sketched and painted a number of impressive views of Hong Kong for the magazine which were later engraved and published in London. He remained in Hong Kong for over two years before going to Italy in 1859 to cover the Franco-Italian war.

Another artist who arrived in Hong Kong in 1858 was the Englishman William Snow.

This watercolour may have been painted by William Snow or a British naval officer. It may have been painted for Lt. Wyniatt upon his promotion.