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C1784
A Night Dance, by Women, in Hapaee.
Artist:
Scarce c.18th engraving based on John Webber’s engraving issued in Cooks account of his Third Voyage and last voyage. A scene in Lifuka, Tonga, 20 May 1777, with James Cook and officers to his left with their backs to the … Read Full Description
$A 75
S/N: HANAAC-PI-TONGA-999–437053
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Details
Full Title:
A Night Dance, by Women, in Hapaee.
Date:
C1784
Artist:
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Copper engraving.
Image Size:
320mm
x 200mm
Paper Size:
382mm
x 242mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1784
Description:
Scarce c.18th engraving based on John Webber’s engraving issued in Cooks account of his Third Voyage and last voyage.
A scene in Lifuka, Tonga, 20 May 1777, with James Cook and officers to his left with their backs to the viewer seated amongst a circle of Tongan men and watching a large group of women performing a dance, lit by tapers held by the watchers.
‘In a short time a number of Women, dressed better than Common, came and encircled the men in a kind of dance and joined in the Song; thus they continued for a full half hour, when two elderly women (one on each side, and who seemed to have the management of the whole) brough[t] the others up, dancing two by two and ranged them before the chief, which ended the dance and the assembly broke up.’ Cook Journals III, i, 100.
From; Hogg, Alexander. A New, authentic, and complete collection of voyages round the world,..of Capt. Cook’s first, second, third and last voyages….
References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970 19.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 18.
Forbes, D. Hawaiian National Bibliography 1780- 1830. Honolulu /Sydney, 1999/2003 61.
Collections:
State Library Victoria: Bib ID 3137599
State Library New South Wales: CALL NUMBERS MRB/F79
State Library Victoria: RARELTF 910.41 A11
Te Papa Museum of New Zealand: Registration No RB000015
John Webber (1752 - 1793)
John Webber was an 18th century artist, best known for his work as the official artist on Captain James Cook's third and final voyage to the Pacific in 1776-1780. He was born in London, England in 1751 and was trained as an artist. Webber accompanied Cook on his voyage as the official artist, tasked with creating drawings and paintings of the places and people they encountered. He produced many illustrations and sketches that were used to make engravings for inclusion in the official account of the voyage, published after Cook's death. Webber was required to "give a more perfect idea thereof than can be formed by written description." Webber's illustrations and engravings of the Pacific islands and their inhabitants are considered some of the most accurate and detailed depictions of the region from that time. They provide an important record of the places and people encountered by Cook and his crew, and are valuable for understanding the culture and daily life of the people of the Pacific during the 18th century. He died in London in 1793, after having returned from the voyage, but his work continues to be recognised as an important historical record of the voyage and of the art of his time. Webber's oeuvre from the voyage was the most comprehensive record of sights in the Pacific region ever produced.
