Opium

Due to the presence of several alkaloids, the juice produced by the capsules of the “poppy joy” was used for medical or recreational purposes. Once dry, when smoked or chewed, it causes euphoria followed by oneiric sleep.

Devido à presença de vários alcalóides empregam o suco produzido pelas cápsulas das 'papoilas da alegria' com fins médicos ou recreativos. Depois de seco, quando fumado ou mascado, provoca euforia seguida de sono onírico.

Unknown (19th century)-'men smoking opium, sitting on lying on the ground'-miniature   London-British Library (Ms ID ASIO 49, fol. 3 Manners and customs, India Office Album, 1870)

William John Huggins (1781-1816)-'opium ships at Lintin in China, 1824'-engraving by Edward Duncan-(1840-1850)   Greenwich-National Maritime Museum

William James Müller (1812-1845)-'opium stall'-oil on panel-1841

Carlo Sarra (1844-1905)-'opium smoker'-oil on canvas-1890   Pavia-Civiche Raccolta d'Arte Moderna

Unknown-'genie carrying a poppy flower'-(bas-relief)   Paris-Musée du Louvre (from Khorsabad)

First opium war 1839-1842 (Primeira guerra do ópio)

From 1820 the British bought to China via the port of Canton, silk, porcelain and tea. In exchange they began the introduction of opium of poppy crops that they owned in India. Due to the input of 450 tonnes in 1835, the Chinese government banned the importation of this drug. The Anglo-Chinese war ended with the Treaty of Nanking. Some sketches were provided to the English artist Thomas Allom (1804-1872) by Lieutenant Royal Navy White.


A partir de 1820 os Ingleses compravam à China, através do porto de Cantão, seda, porcelanas e chá. Em troca iniciaram a introdução de ópio das culturas de papoilas que possuíam na Índia. Em virtude da entrada de 450 toneladas em 1835, o governo Chinês decretou a proibição da importação desta droga. A guerra Anglo-Chinesa terminou com o Tratado de Nanquim. Alguns esboços foram fornecidos ao pintor inglês Thomas Allom (1804-1872) pelo Tenente White da Marinha Inglesa.

(Thomas Allom and Georg Newenham Wright; China: in a series of views displaying the scenery, architecture and social habits of that Ancient Empire drawn from original and authentic sketches, Fisher, Son & Co, London [1843])

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'opium smokers'-steel engraving (G. Peterson)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'attack to Chuenpee (24 March 1842)'-steel engraving (H. Adler)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'British encampment'-steel engraving (J. C. Bentley)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'capture of Ting hai'-steel engraving (E. Brandard)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'H M ships Imogene and Andromache passing the batteries of Bocca-Tigris'-steel engraving (W. Floyd)