Canton, Kwangtung (Guangdong) province, China: a Manchu soldier. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

A man, wearing light-coloured trousers and a dark hat with fur trim, leaning against a wall, holding a leaf in his left hand. A flight of steps to the right, foliage behind

Unlike some of his portraits of Manchu, this portrait of a soldier is more in Thomson's style. The soldier appears completely at ease, with his right arm resting on the wall. He looks away from the camera, with the hint of a smile on his face. The photograph is obviously posed, but it reveals the soldier's humanity. It also shows the 'fine manly build and soldierly appearance' of the typical Manchu soldier

1869

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Tartar soldier, Canton Bears Thomson's negative number: "664"

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 135 (reproduced)

Wellcome Collection 19572i