Selected Artists Continued
John Webber and Captain James Cook.
A
fantastic new display at the National Maritime Museum, ‘The Art & Science of Exploration, 1768-80’, is ‘an exhibition
of exceptional paintings, prints and drawings by specially commissioned artists
on Captain Cook’s 18th-century voyages of discovery. These works influenced
forever how the European public saw the Pacific’.
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| James Cook. [Ref: 4577] £140.00 |
Another featured artist in our new
catalogue is John Webber (1751-93) who travelled with Captain Cook
on his Third Voyage (1776-80)on board HMS Resolution
as the Official Artist of the expedition, even recording the explorer's death
at the hand of Hawaiian natives.
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| [Hawaii] An Inland View, in Atooi. [Ref: 34290] £360.00 |
In 1776, Webber's work at an exhibition
caught the eye of Daniel Solander, a botanist on Cook's first voyage. Solander
knew that the Admiralty was still looking for a suitable expedition artist for
Cook's forthcoming voyage. He met Webber to sound out his interest in the task,
and then recommended him to the Admiralty for the job.
He penned, crayoned, and water-coloured
his way around the world, producing a large volume of material - from lightning
quick field sketches, to worked-up drawings, to complete compositions. He amply
fulfilled his task of making an accurate record of landscape and 'memorable
scenes', as well as doing competent portraits, such as these:
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| [Alaska] A Man of Prince William's Sound. [Ref: 34277] £120.00 |
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| [Alaska] A Woman of Prince William's Sound. [Ref: 34282] £220.00 |
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| A Man of Kamtschatka. [Ref: 34193] £160.00 |
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| A Man of Oonalashka. [Ref: 34216] £220.00 |
One of his first tasks on the expedition's return to England
in 1780 was to complete the portrait of James Cook he had begun in 1776, which
he then presented to Cook's widow. The Admiralty employed him for several years
making oil paintings based on his drawings. These were the illustrations for
the official account of the voyage. He then supervised the engravings made of
the pictures to enable them to be printed and published.
Some of our favourites from the comprehensive
selection include …
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| A White Bear. [Ref: 34180] £320.00 |
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| A Night Dance by Women, in Hapaee. [Ref: 34303] £320.00 |
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| Sea Horses. [Ref: 34334] £220.00 |
Webber's reputation as an artist was
thoroughly established by his work from this voyage. His representation of
Pacific places continued to fascinate an audience with a thirst for the exotic.
