William Alexander Watercolour Drawing Lei Gong The Chinese God Of Thunder Ca.1792

William Alexander 1767-1816. British School. Watercolour and pencil drawing. "Chinese Jupiter." Signed with initials lower right. 11.5 by 13 cms. Provenance: Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd, London, 100th Annual Exhibition of Watercolours & Drawings, 15 January - 16 February 1973, No. 127.

The image depicts Lei Gong, also known as Lui-Shin, The Chinese God of Thunder. A mythological figure usually shown as a half-man half-bird. The present drawing probably executed by Alexander whilst on the Macartney Embassy to China was engraved and published as The 'Jupiter of the Chinese', in a "Modern and Authentic System of Universal Geography"

William Alexander was a prominent late 18th Century English artist, painter, and engraver who served as the official draughtsman on the 1792-1794 Macartney Embassy to China. He created detailed watercolours and sketches depicting Chinese life, landscapes, and costumes, which shaped Western, particularly British, perceptions of China in the late 18th century.