Pirogue des Isles Sandwich, avec les rameurs masques (Canoe of the Sandwich Islands with masked rowers)
Artist
John Webber R.A.
(1751-1793)
Engraver
Robert Bénard
(1734 -)
Date1785
Object number00001475
NameEngraving
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 388 × 250 mm
Mount / Matt size (B Fini): 407 × 560 mm
Display dimensions (B Fini): 435 × 590 × 45 mm
Mount / Matt size (B Fini): 407 × 560 mm
Display dimensions (B Fini): 435 × 590 × 45 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionEngraving titled 'Pirogue des Isles Sandwich, avec les rameurs masques' ('Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, with masked rowers'). Engraved by Robert Benard after a drawing by John Webber for the French edition of James Cook's account of his third voyage on the RESOLUTION and DISCOVERY, published Paris, 1785.HistoryJohn Webber (1751-1793) was the official artist on Captain James Cook's third voyage of exploration from 1776 to 1780.
In 1775, at the age of 24, Webber studied at the Royal Academy in London with other artists who had worked on images from Cook's earlier voyages, including Nathaniel Dance and Francesco Bartolozzi. Webber's work was noticed by Daniel Solander, the Swedish naturalist who had sailed on Cook's first voyage, and it was Solander who recommended him for appointment as official artist on Cook's third voyage.
Webber's background as an accomplished portraitist and landscape artist interested in rural subjects, well qualified him to make drawings and paintings of the people, objects and places the expedition was to visit.
" It was Webber's job to make drawings and paintings of people and objects encountered on the voyage of the Resolution; to 'observe the genius, temper, disposition of the natives… showing them every kind of civility and regard'." - National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.
Combined with the paintings by William Webb Ellis, surgeon's second mate on the DISCOVERY, the prolific Webber produced the most comprehensive visual record of any of Cook's voyages. He also painted Cook's portrait during the voyage.
SignificanceJohn Webber was the official artist on Captain James Cook's third voyage of exploration and is well known for his portraits he painted of Cook and his death in Hawaii. Engravings based on Webber's orginal works were widely reproduced and became defining images of life in the Pacific and certainly, of Cooks last voyage.
