Within Australia
All orders ship freewithin Australia
Rest of the World
Orders over A$300
ship free worldwide
C1784
An Offering before Capt. Cook, in the Sandwich Islands.
Artist:
Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s third and final voyage. All other later copies made of this image by other publishers were unauthorised, usually smaller and inferior in quality. After laying anchor … Read Full Description
Sold
S/N: CK03E-3013056-PI-HAW–224009
(C015)
Free Shipping
See Shipping page for Terms & Conditions
Details
Full Title:
An Offering before Capt. Cook, in the Sandwich Islands.
Date:
C1784
Artist:
Condition:
In good condition, with centre fold as issued.
Technique:
Copper engraving.
Image Size:
410mm
x 260mm
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. All other later copies made of this image by other publishers were unauthorised, usually smaller and inferior in quality.
After laying anchor in Kealakekua Bay 27 January 1779, Cook and select members of his crew were hosted at a sacred kava ceremony in front of what appears to be a temple dedicated to the God, Lono.
Cook’s arrival had coincided with the celebration of the annual makahiki, a month-long festival honoring Lono, god of agriculture and fertility. It proved to be a fortuitous set of coincidences for Cook, for makahiki was a time when hostilities ceased, and festivities and feasting were part of the ceremonial events. Hawaiian legends had predicted that Lono, one of the four primary gods of the Hawaiian pantheon, would one day return to Hawai’i on “floating islands.” The Discovery and Resolution, far larger than even the largest Hawaiian voyaging canoes, might well have been mistaken for floating islands as they sailed offshore. Many believe that Cook was treated with respectful deference as he was probably thought to be the returning Lono.
The engraving depicts the grand ceremony of acknowledging Cook as an incarnation of the God Lono on 19 January, 1779. Cook was ceremoniously received twice, first on 17 January 1779 when Koa’a, the priest, conducted the ceremony in a heiau ‘called Hikiau’.
Beddie 1743-60, p.342, Joppien 3.294A, ill.p.527
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.
