Technical description
Panoramic wallpaper, hand-painted, made up of one series of fourteen strips measuring 6.40m x 1.50m and another series of thirteen strips measuring 6m x 1.50m.
These panoramic wallpapers make up a vast printed panorama, assembled from series which range from six to thirty-three strips in length. In the 19th century, artists referred to “landscapes”, historiated or otherwise, which could be adapted to fit various different structures, up to the same height as the walls and irrespective of the number of openings. These panoramas were framed by cyma and cornice mouldings and divided into separate scenes, separated by pilasters.
History
These particular scenes represent the raging battle that was fought over the Taku forts, near to Tianjin, during the Chinese expedition in 1860. The northern fort was reduced to ruins at the end of the battle, which took place on 21 August, 1860.
This image forms part of our close-up on: the Franco-British expedition to China, 1860.
Scene from the Battle of the Taku Forts, August 1860: panoramic wallpaper sections
