Chinese Promenade
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-806
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Victor Vincent Adam (1801–1866), a French artist, created “Chinese Promenade” between 1835 and 1840. This delicate drawing, now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, captures a leisurely scene that hints at the 19th-century European fascination with Eastern motifs and customs. Acquired through the bequest of Erskine Hewitt, the work reflects the era’s expanding global trade and cultural curiosity, when artists often explored exotic themes in everyday settings. Classified simply as a drawing, the piece invites close viewing of its fine lines and subtle tonal shifts—qualitie...