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Record of historical events

Victoria and Albert collected photographs that documented the political and military events that defined a period of global expansion

    CORPORAL WOTHERSPOON

    The Third Entrance to the Temple used as Head Quarters during the Battle of Canton

    1858

    Salted paper print | 22.3 x 26.7 cm (image) | RCIN 2934998

    Photograph of the third entrance to the temple used as Head Quarters during the Battle of Canton. The temple has a pointed roof and a frieze decorated with animals. The entrance has a circular opening surrounded by engravings of Chinese characters. There is a window with bamboo railings to either side. A man is sitting on the left side of the stairs leading up to the entrance.

    This is one of a series of photographs taken in the aftermath of the Battle of Canton. British and French soldiers captured the city of Canton at the start of January 1858 with relative ease. This victory was a contributing factor in the Chinese signing the Treaty of Tientsin, ending the Second Opium War.
    • Creator(s)

      Corporal Wotherspoon (photographer)

    • 22.3 x 26.7 cm (image)

      32.6 x 38.0 cm (mount)

    • Received by the Royal Librarian John H Glover at Windsor Castle, October 1858

    • Subject(s)
      • Places
        • Asia
          • China
            • Guangzhou [China]
      • Social sciences
        • Military affairs
          • Wars, Campaigns & Battles
            • Wars
              • Wars of the nineteenth century
                • Second Opium War (1856-1860)
                  • Battle of Canton (1857-58)
      • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
        • Architecture
          • Ecclesiastical & religious architecture
            • Non-Christian religious architecture
              • Temples
          • Architectural history
            • Classical architecture
              • Oriental architecture
                • Chinese architecture
      • Language, Linguistics and Literature
        • Linguistics & languages
          • Languages
            • Sino-Tibetan languages
              • Chinese languages