Anqing (Anhui Province)

Along with conventional views of cities and landscapes

seen here, Hollar’s prints for Ogilby’s China illustrate

exotic plants and animals and curiously dressed locals.

As strict copies, Hollar’s etchings include all of the

exaggerations and inaccuracies of the Dutch originals.

A successful entrepreneur, John Ogilby recognised the

growing public appetite for richly illustrated publications.

He was among the first to employ Hollar following the

artist’s return to London in 1652. The work of copying the original plates for this book was shared among a

number of artists and one view here is attributed to

Hollar’s friend Francis Place. With an English-language

text and numerous illustrations, Ogilby’s book provided a

British audience an unprecedented – though not entirely

accurate – insight into life in the Orient.

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