“Imagine boundless gardens in which, at every step of the way, spread out over roughly four leagues, palaces follow pagodas follow lakes. Within the palaces there is an abundance of Chinese and European artefacts; ivory panelling, sparkling candelabras, all kinds of furniture, ornaments of gold, jasper and porphyry, combine and intertwine, their reflections magnified by the immense mirrors.” [Pierre-Jean Rémy, Le Sac du Palais d'été, Gallimard, Prix Renaudot 1971, tr. H.D.W.]
On 7 and 8 October, 1860, the famous Summer Palace was pillaged and burnt to the ground by French and British troops, on the orders of Lord Elgin. This act, which took place during the Chinese expedition, was committed in retaliation for the torture and death of a number of allied individuals who had been taken prisoner by Chinese troops.
This image forms part of our close-up on: the Franco-British expedition to China, 1860.
The Summer Palace, or Yuánmíng Yuán
