Bilder John Webber (1751–1793) – Human Sacrifice at a Marae in Tahiti – Large Folio Engraving (1784)

Beskrivning

"A Human Sacrifice, in a Marae, in Otaheite" illustrates a solemn religious ceremony at a sacred stone platform on the island of Tahiti, featuring the presentation of a sacrificial victim alongside ritual offerings. The composition depicts Captain James Cook and his officers standing to the right as observers, while Tahitian priests and attendants perform specific rites involving drums and the preparation of the site within a tropical landscape. This engraving was published in London in 1784 by W. and A. Strahan as part of the official account of Cook's third and final voyage. The work represents a significant ethnographic observation of Polynesian religious practices and the complex social structures encountered by European explorers in the late eighteenth century.

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 40 cm x 55 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.