Lai Afong
1869
The Bankers‘ Glen, Yuen-foo River

Albumen print
21.60 x 29 cm
 
National Galleries of Scotland
Courtesy of the National Galleries of Scotland (Accession no. PGP R 871.134), Gift of Mrs. Riddell in memory of Peter Fletcher Riddell 1985
 
There has been confusion over this photographer and although photographs are frequently credited to Lai Afong this might be an error and the photographer should be Afong. (20 June 2006 - Dennis George Crow)
 
This picture was taken outside the city of Foochow in the south of China near the coast. It shows members of the British community of bankers, merchants and consular officials who lived in the region, enjoying a day out. The spot was, in fact, named after them. The western figures at the heart of this image, including the British Consul and his wife, appear tiny in this magnificent setting. It may be that the photographer was trying to emphasise the splendour of the mountain rocks, which, according to the Chinese, embody the sacred aspect of the landscape.
 
LL/6819