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C1784
A Young Woman of Otaheite, Bringing a Present.
Artist:
Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s third and final voyage. Cook arrived at Matavia Bay, Tahiti on 24th August and stayed until 30 September, 1777. Cook recorded on 8 September 1777. ‘I….went … Read Full Description
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S/N: CK03E-2051122-PI-SOC–223488
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Details
Full Title:
A Young Woman of Otaheite, Bringing a Present.
Date:
C1784
Artist:
Condition:
In good condition
Technique:
Copper engraving.
Image Size:
280mm
x 350mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1784
Description:
Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s third and final voyage.
Cook arrived at Matavia Bay, Tahiti on 24th August and stayed until 30 September, 1777.
Cook recorded on 8 September 1777.
‘I….went with him [Otoo] to his Fathers where they were dressing two girls in a prodigious quantity of fine cloth [tapa] in a manner rather curious; the one end of each piece, of which there were a good many, was held up over the heads while the remainder was wraped round them under their armpits, then the upper ends were let fall and hung down in foulds to the ground over the other and looked some thing like a circular hooped petticoat. After ward round the out side of all, were wraped several pieces of different Coloured cloth, which considerably increased the Size so that the whole was not less than five or six yards in circuit and was as much as the poor girl could support. To each was hung two Taame’s, or breast plates by way of inriching the whole. Thus equipped they were conducted on board the Ship together with Several Hogs and a quantity of fruit as a present from Otoos Father to me. Either men or women dressed in this manner they call Atee….’ Cook Journals III, i, 207-8.
Beddie 1743-27, p.340, Joppien 3.104A, ill.p.361
From Cook & King, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere….
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.
