A painting entitled 'Chinese being taken prisoner at Taishan, 8 March 1842' by William Adolphus Knell. This is one of a pair, the other being ‘The crew of the Nemesis attacking 500 Chinese soldiers at Taishan, 8 March 1842 by William Adolphus Knell (ZBA9437).
This incident during the First Anglo-Chinese War involved boats from the iron warship 'Nemesis' (commanded by William Hutcheon Hall), which were ordered by Admiral Sir William Parker to Taishan to disperse Chinese forces that were attempting to reach Chusan. During the operation several Chinese junks and local dwellings were burnt. (See William Laird Clowes, 'The Royal Navy: a history', vol. 6 (London, 1901), pp. 296-7.) This painting shows British seamen taking Chinese captives, two being pulled by their pigtails. A number of dead and wounded Chinese combatants occupy the right of the scene.