George Chinnery is acknowledged as one of the foremost European artists based in Asia in the first half of the nineteenth century. He was versatile, producing during the course of a long career spent largely in India and southern China a range of portraits, landscapes and street scenes in oil, watercolour and pencil. A Londoner by birth, he studied at the Royal Academy Schools but moved to Ireland when in his early twenties, marrying in Dublin in 1799. His elder brother William also left his native country, but in his case he fled to Sweden to avoid imprisonment for fraud.

Leaving his wife and two infant children in Europe, in 1802 George Chinnery set out for Madras on the Gilwell, later transferring to the centre of British power in the sub-continent, Calcutta. Apart from regular visits to Canton and a stint in Hong Kong he spent the last part of his life in the small Portuguese colony of Macao.

Painted in India where the artist resided for many years at the beginning of the 19th century. The Palace appears in the background. In front is the river with a large country boat.