TIANJIN; SECOND OPIUM WAR.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Album of sketches made in Tianjin by Ensign Francis Sadleir Brereton. Highly engaging album, the core of which comprises 26 sketches of Tientsin (Tianjin) in 1861, sketched by Ensign Francis Sadleir Brereton, the year following the conclusion of the Second Opium War; with additional views of Singapore and Java. A unique visual record of Qing dynasty Tianjin, as seen through the eyes of a young British army officer.Brereton (1838-1911) was commissioned ensign in the Royal North Gloucestershire Militia in November 1855, transferring to the 2nd Battalion, 60th Rifles in December of the same year. Even among sharpshooters he was clearly a crack shot, serving as inspector of musketry and winning both the Ladies' Purse and Challenge Prize. In 1857 he sailed with his battalion to South Africa. Following service in India during the Rebellion and in China during the Second Opium War, he resigned his commission in 1865. He afterwards practised as an architect with his father-in-law, Frederick Beeston, then independently as an architect and surveyor. In 1889 he was elected to serve on the first London County Council.During the 18th century drawing masters were established at the military training centres at Woolwich, Chatham, High Wycombe, and Addiscombe, with the aim of instructing officer cadets in drawing and watercolour. Although there is no record of Brereton having studied in this way his sketchbook comprises an accomplished series of views very much in the tradition of the soldie

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