Plan of the city and harbour of Macao

Date1796

Object number00003067

NameChart

MediumPaper & ink

DimensionsImage: 680 x 520 mm
Overall: 710 x 560 mm

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThe city and harbour of Macao was a colony of Portugal situated on the southern extremity of the Chinese empire. This black and white lithograph shows the city plan including forts, parishes, colleges, convents and chapels.HistoryThis map was published by Sir George Staunton in 1796 and appeared in the Folio Volume accompanying his account of Lord Macartney's embassy to China. Sir George Leonard Staunton was a botanist and employee of the East India Company in the late eighteenth century. In 1793, Staunton was named Secretary to the British mission to the Chinese Imperial court. This diplomatic and trade mission was headed by Lord Macartney. Although the Macartney Embassy returned to London without obtaining any concessions from China, the mission was regarded as a success due to the detailed observations it brought back. Staunton was charged with producing the official account of the expedition. Staunton described the map as 'A plan of the city and harbour of Macao, a colony of the Portuguese, situated at the southern extremity of the Chinese empire: containing references to all the forts, colleges, convents, and other public buildings and places of note: and also the depth of the water, and nature of the ground in every part of the inner harbour, as well as the space between the peninsula and the northern entrance into the Typa: taken from an accurate survey made by a gentleman long resident on the spot.'SignificanceBefore photography, paintings and drawings of Macao, Canton and Hong Kong were the only illustrations of these exotic ports. These works depict unusual landscapes, walled cities and spectacular architecture, which helped to establish the Western vision of China as a land of silk, porcelain and tea.