Collections : [Yale University -Yale Center for British Art]

Singapore is at the crossroads of Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok Straits, and the South China Seas, which made it a key trading center in the India-China route. This view overlooking the Singapore River was taken from an observation point on Mount Wallich, named after Nathaniel Wallich who founded the settlement's Botanical and Experimental Garden. Today the view is no longer replicable, as Mount Wallich was levelled in 1885. Significantly, Porcher's view pre-dates one of the most well-known panoramic paintings of this viewpoint by Percy Carpenter, Singapore from Mount Wallich, 1856. Many of the same structures are visible in both the Porcher and Carpenter: Government Hill and Governor's House, the colonial residence built in 1822 by G.D. Coleman, which itself provided the colonial administration with an uninterrupted view (most view of Singapore were commissioned from this vantage point). The elevated vantage point also eliminated the unattractive mangrove swamps that dominated low-lying areas. The spires of the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd; the broad esplanade of Telok Ayer street; the Telok Ayer market, also built after designs by Coleman, on the spit of land jutting into the basin (Pieris 43-45; Wong and Waterson 96).

Government Hill features prominently in views of Singapore, often as the apex of the composition, as Porcher has done in this view from the South Boat Quay near the junction with Market Street. Raffles had established his presence and political control by appropriating the traditional elevated domain of the Malay Rulers, who occupied it (then called Bukit Larangan 'Forbidden Hill') in the fourteenth century (Wong 37). In Porcher's view, the river is bustling with traffic: small sampans ferry passengers to the arched landing and a Malay perahu-mayang fishing boat brings in its catch at lower right. A number of warehouses lining the banks of the river are accessible by the Thomson's Bridge – the only access to the commercial town. Porcher labeled the Master Attendant's building (at right), which was the headquarters of the Master Attendant of the British entrepot and a post office. In a lithographed version of Porcher's view by Vincent Brooks, a nakhoda (boat captain) was added in the foreground, and a Javanese trading vessel at left. Several boats filled with cargo, and a display of tropical fruits perched dockside entices viewers to the 'exotic' goods flowing in and out of the port (see Hong Suen Wong page 72 for Vincent Brooks lithograph).

Mounted together with "33. Coffee from Pinang. May 28th 1850." "34. Cloves from Pinang. Dec. 22nd 1851." "35. Nutmegs from Pinang. June 1st 1850."

Mounted together with "32. Pepper Grown at Sinapore. November 4th 1851.," "34. Cloves from Pinang. Dec. 22nd 1851.," "35. Nutmegs from Pinang. June 1st 1850."

Mounted together with "32. Pepper Grown at Sinapore. [sic] November 4th 1851.," "33. Coffee from Pinang. May 28th 1850.," "35. Nutmegs from Pinang. June 1st 1850."

Mounted together with "32. Pepper Grown at Sinapore. [sic] November 4th 1851.," "33. Coffee from Pinang. May 28th 1850.," "34. Cloves from Pinang. Dec. 22nd 1851."

Porcher describes the pagodas of Rangoon in his journal: "The town of Rangoon is situated on the north shore of a considerable branch of the river that extends to the westward about a league, and is about 24 miles from the entrance. The Dagon Pagoda supposed to be the finest in this part of the country, and held in high veneration by the natives by its containing light true hairs of Gautama, is about 2 miles from the town in a NNW direction, on an elevation of 487 feet above high water level, part of which is supposed to be artificial. It commands a fine view of the surrounding country, and both branches of the river" (65). Porcher has pictured himself sitting, sketching the scene depicted. George Hunt's illustrations for Rangoon Views (1825-26) may have been an artistic model for Porcher's view.