Nanking, Kiangsu province, China: three men examining a gun at the arsenal. Photograph by John Thomson, 1871.

Three men two of whom, on the right, are examining a Gatling gun or Mitrailleuse, the breech-block of which lies by the tail of the trunnion. Parts of other weapons on the ground, an empty gun carriage behind to the left, against which the third man leans. A large riveted iron bucket on the extreme right, a pile of cannon-balls behind, a building in the background. The same place as Thomson's negative number 802

Nanking arsenal was built in 1865 under the auspices of Li Hongzhang, the renowned Late Qing general and statesman, who negotiated with western powers on several occasions on behalf of the Qing government, and who advocated modernizing the Chinese army. The arsenal was one of the first of its kind in China, and, under the superintendence of Sir H. Macartney, was run on the most up-to-date scientific principles. Every year some hundred tons of guns and ammunition were manufactured here, from heavy guns for battery trains to field artillery, howitzers, gatling-guns, torpedoes, rockets, shot, shell, cartridges and caps

1871.

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion ; glass approximately 20.5 x 25.5 cm (8 x 10 in.)

Nanking arsenal, China, 1871 Bears Thomson's negative number: "800"

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. 81 (reproduced)

Wellcome Collection 19866i