ARTWORKS

Private John Moyse, The 3rd (East Kent, The Buffs) Regiment of Foot, Refusing to Kow-Tow before the Tartar Mandarin Tsan-koo-lin-sin, 2nd China War, 1860

William Robertson Smith Stott (1878–1939)

National Army Museum

Private John Moyse, The 3rd (East Kent, The Buffs) Regiment of Foot, Refusing to Kow-Tow before the Tartar Mandarin Tsan-koo-lin-sin, 2nd China War, 1860

Image credit: National Army Museum

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Moyse is shown, hands tied behind back, confronting a Chinese mandarin on horseback during the Second China War (1856–1860). Both are surrounded by armed Chinese. Moyse was captured by Tartar cavalry at the Taku Forts on 12 August 1860 and after refusing to kow-tow (bow) to the Mandarin was executed. His defiant action was later immortalised by Sir Francis Hastings Doyle in his poem ‘A Private of the Buffs’. Moyse had been a sergeant, but was reduced to the ranks for insubordination prior to his death.

National Army Museum

London

Read more on National Army Museum
Title

Private John Moyse, The 3rd (East Kent, The Buffs) Regiment of Foot, Refusing to Kow-Tow before the Tartar Mandarin Tsan-koo-lin-sin, 2nd China War, 1860

Date

c.1910

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 47.9 x W 35.5 cm

Accession number

NAM. 2001-04-329

Acquisition method

gift from the Trustees of the Buffs Regimental Museum, 2001

Work type

Painting

Tags

This artwork does not have any tags yet. You can help by tagging artworks on Tagger.

National Army Museum

Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, Greater London SW3 4HT England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue

Artist or maker

William Robertson Smith Stott

1878–1939

View profile
  • Lieutenant Colonel C. M. MacQuibban, MD
    Lieutenant Colonel C. M. MacQuibban, MD The Gordon Highlanders Museum
  • Private John Moyse, The 3rd (East Kent, The Buffs) Regiment of Foot, Refusing to Kow-Tow before the Tartar Mandarin Tsan-koo-lin-sin, 2nd China War, 1860
    Private John Moyse, The 3rd (East Kent, The Buffs) Regiment of Foot, Refusing to Kow-Tow before the Tartar Mandarin Tsan-koo-lin-sin, 2nd China War, 1860 National Army Museum
  • An African Medicine Man Dancing: Tribesmen Sitting on the Ground around Him
    An African Medicine Man Dancing: Tribesmen Sitting on the Ground around Him Wellcome Collection

Stories