Bilder John Webber (1751–1793) – View of Huahine – French Polynesia – Large Folio Engraving (1784)

Beskrivning

"A View of Huaheine" illustrates a panoramic landscape of the island of Huahine in the Society Islands, featuring its rugged volcanic peaks and palm-fringed coastline. The composition depicts two of Captain Cook's ships anchored in the bay, surrounded by various local outrigger canoes and several figures on the shore and in the water. This engraving was published in London in 1784 by W. and A. Strahan as part of the official account of James Cook's third and final voyage. The work documents the topographical beauty and the maritime interactions encountered during the expedition, serving as one of the primary visual records of the South Pacific for an eighteenth-century European audience.

John Webber was an English artist and explorer who served as the official draughtsman on Captain James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific aboard the HMS Resolution. Born in London and trained in Bern and Paris, he was selected for the expedition to provide a detailed visual record of the people, landscapes, and natural history encountered. Throughout the journey, he produced hundreds of drawings and watercolors that were later translated into high-quality copperplate engravings for the official government publication. Webber's work was instrumental in shaping the Enlightenment-era perception of the Pacific Islands and contributed significantly to the fields of ethnography and topographical art.

Artist or Maker: John Webber.

Dimensions: Approximately 55 cm x 40 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1784.

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.