Camp Nor'wester – Norwester Auction 2018
Auction Ends: Mar 11, 2018 09:00 PM PDT

Artwork

Original John Webber Engraving: "The Inside of a House in Nootka Sound"

Item Number
120
Estimated Value
500 USD
Sold
300 USD to ds2ba24cb
Number of Bids
1  -  Bid History

Item Description

Matted original engraving by artist John Webber, who accompanied Captain James Cook during his exploration of the Pacific. "The Inside of a House in Nootka Sound" dates from 1784. 

Item Special Note

Jim Hustace is a former Henderson/Nor'wester camper and staff member and a Certified Fine Art Appraiser.

John Webber was the first European artist to depict Hawai'i and its natives. He served as official artist on Captain James Cook's third voyage of discovery around the Pacific (1776-80) aboard HMS Resolution. At Adventure Bay in January 1777, he did drawings of A Man of Van Diemen's Land and A Woman of Van Diemen's Land. He also did many drawings of scenes in New Zealand and the South Sea islands. On this voyage, during which Cook lost his life in a battle at Kealakekua Bay, Webber became the first European artist to make contact with Hawai'i, then called the Sandwich Islands. After Cook's death on 14th February 1779, Captain King undertook the command of the expedition; the other officers of the crew included William Bligh (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame), James Burney, and George Vancouver. Webber made numerous watercolor landscapes of the islands of Kauai and Hawai'i, and also portrayed many of the Hawaiian people. Webber's portrayals are accurate and very detailed. Upon his return to England, he displayed at the Royal Academy. Many of his studies were later embellished and executed as oil paintings that he continued to show in the annual Royal Academy exhibitions until his death. The prints of the engravings are from the 1785 Atlas of Cook's voyages, specifically the drawings of Cook's third voyage to the Pacific and Hawai'i in 1776-1780.

 

Donated By:

James Hustace