Bilder James Cook (1728-1779) – Portrait of a Maori Warrior – Engraving (1774)

Beskrivning

"Tête d’un Guerrier de la Nouvelle Zélande" This engraving presents a detailed profile portrait of a Maori warrior from New Zealand. The subject is depicted with traditional moko (facial tattoos) across the cheek, nose, and forehead, and his hair is tied in a topknot secured with a decorative comb or heru. He wears a woven cloak and a hei-tiki pendant around his neck, reflecting the intricate craftsmanship and social signifiers of Maori culture. This plate was published in the French edition of James Cook’s voyages, translated by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard and printed in Paris. These illustrations provided one of the earliest and most influential visual records of Indigenous Pacific peoples for a European audience.

James Cook was a British naval captain, navigator, and cartographer who achieved global fame for his three voyages of discovery to the Pacific Ocean. During his first voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour, he became the first European to perform a complete circumnavigation and detailed charting of the islands of New Zealand. Cook was accompanied by scientific illustrators and botanists who documented the landscapes, flora, fauna, and cultural inhabitants encountered during the expedition. His journals and the accompanying engravings became foundational texts for the study of Pacific ethnography and geography. Cook’s legacy remains a central, though complex, element in the history of maritime exploration and colonial encounter.

Artist or Maker: James Cook.

Dimensions: Approximately 26 cm x 20 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1774.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.