Omai, a Native of the Island of Utietea [i.e. Ulietea] (detail) Les Sauvages de la mer Pacifique 1805 Cook & Omai: The Cult of the South Seas Les Sauvages de la mer Pacifique 1805
Introduction The truest picture of an arcadia A Noble Savage in London The deaths of Cook and Omai Epilogue


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A View in Matavai, Otaheite

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John Webber (1752–1793)
A View in Matavai, Otaheite
London: J. Webber, 1 February 1787
engraving; plate mark 29.3 x 43 cm
aquatint by Marie Catherina Prestel
(1747–1794)
Rex Nan Kivell Collection NK467/C
Pictorial Collection U1181

 

The rich pictorial record of Cook’s first two voyages to the Pacific clearly established the value of taking artists on voyages of exploration. When plans for the third voyage were announced, the question was not whether an artist should be included amongst the crew, but rather who it should be. It was Daniel Solander who proposed John Webber, a young artist of Swiss extraction who had recently returned to England after studying art in Berne and Paris.

Webber received his appointment from the Admiralty on 24 June 1776 and sailed from Plymouth on the Resolution on 12 July. The terms of his commission, almost identical to those for Hodges four years earlier stated:

‘Whereas we have engaged Mr John Webber Draughtsman and Landskip Painter to proceed in His Majesty’s Sloop under your Command on her present intended voyage, in order to make Drawings and Paintings of such places in the Countries you may touch at in the course of the said Voyage as may be proper to give a more perfect Idea thereof than can be formed by written descriptions only; You are hereby required and directed to receive the said Mr John Webber on board giving him all proper assistance, Victualling him as the Sloop’s company, and taking care that he does diligently employ himself in making Drawings or Paintings of such places as you may touch at, that may be worthy of notice, in the course of your Voyage, as also such other objects and things as may fall within the compass of His abilities.’

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