Bilder James Cook (1728-1779) – Entrevue du Commodore Byron avec les Patagons – Engraving (1774)

Beskrivning

"Entrevue du Commodore Byron avec les Patagons" This engraving depicts the historic encounter between Commodore John Byron and the indigenous people of Patagonia during his circumnavigation of the globe aboard the HMS Dolphin. The scene shows Byron and his officers on a sandy shore meeting a group of Patagonians, who were famously described in his journals as being of giant stature. To the right, two small boats from the expedition are moored in the surf, while the HMS Dolphin is visible in the distance. The landscape features rolling hills with several mounted figures on the horizon, capturing the initial diplomatic exchange between the European explorers and the local inhabitants. This plate was published in the French edition of the voyages of discovery, translated and compiled by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard and printed in Paris.

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 expedition, he charted the eastern coast of Australia, claiming the region for Great Britain under the name New South Wales. The seven weeks spent at the Endeavour River allowed for the first extensive European study of Australian flora and fauna, including the first recorded sighting of a kangaroo by Europeans. Cook's charts and the accompanying illustrations provided the first detailed visual and geographic records of the Australian continent for a European audience. His legacy remains a foundational element in the history of maritime exploration and the scientific documentation of the Pacific.

Artist or Maker: James Cook.

Dimensions: Approximately 41 cm x 25 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.