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January 20, 2024 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

The First Images of Hawai‘i (John Webber)

John Webber (Johann Waeber) served as official artist on Captain James Cook’s third voyage of discovery around the Pacific (1776-1780) aboard HMS Resolution.

Through his work, we have the first glimpses of what the people and landscape looked like.

Webber became the first European artist to make contact with Hawai‘i, then called the Sandwich Islands. He made numerous watercolor landscapes of the islands of Kauai and Hawai‘i, and also portrayed many of the Hawaiian people.

Born in 1751, when John was six, his parents sent him to Bern to live with his father’s sister. He must have shown ability in art, for at sixteen he was apprenticed to a leading, and popular, landscape artist in Switzerland, Johann Aberli.

He spent three years in Aberli’s studio, and then had four years in Paris, where he studied drawing and oil painting at the Académie Royale. Eventually he returned to London to work and to continue his studies at the Royal Academy there.

In 1776, Webber’s work at an exhibition caught the eye of Daniel Solander, a botanist on Cook’s first voyage. Solander knew that the Admiralty was still looking for a suitable expedition artist for Cook’s forthcoming voyage. He met Webber to sound out his interest in the task. (govt-nz)

Knowing that no artist had yet been selected for Cook’s voyage, Solander recommended Webber to the Admiralty and Royal Society. His appointment was made just days before the departure. (gov-au)

Webber was twenty-four years old when he was offered a place as expedition artist with Captain James Cook on his third voyage of exploration to the Pacific.

It must have seemed an amazing opportunity to an artist in the early stages of his career. And indeed that voyage became a launching pad for the direction of Webber’s work for the rest of his life.

Webber’s appointment was a success. He was popular with his shipmates, and his work was appreciated too. He was obviously an assiduous and enthusiastic worker. He penned, crayoned, and water-coloured his way around the world, producing a large volume of material – from lightning quick field sketches, to worked-up drawings, to complete compositions.

One of his first tasks on the expedition’s return to England in 1780 was to complete the portrait of James Cook he had begun in 1776, which he then presented to Cook’s widow.

The Admiralty employed him for several years making oil paintings based on his drawings. These were the illustrations for the official account of the voyage. He then supervised the engravings made of the pictures to enable them to be printed and published.

Webber’s reputation as an artist was thoroughly established by his work from this voyage. His representation of Pacific places continued to fascinate an audience with a thirst for the exotic.

One outcome was his involvement in the creation of stage scenery and costumes for the 1785 London stage spectacle loosely based on Cook’s voyages and on the travels of Omai from the Society Islands.

For the rest of his life he made regular tours drawing landscapes in Britain and Europe. He continued to do portraits and paint compositions based on the drawings of his Pacific travels, such as his painting of Ship Cove

He was one of the first artists to make and sell prints of his own works. He was made a full member of the Royal Academy in 1791 – a distinction in those days for someone who was regarded primarily as a landscape artist. He died from kidney disease in 1793, leaving ‘a considerable fortune’. (govt-nz)

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View of the Sandwich Islands_Webber-Anchorage at Atooi
View of the Sandwich Islands_Webber-Anchorage at Atooi
An Inland View of Atooi-Webber-Rumsey-S
An Inland View of Atooi-Webber-Rumsey-S
A Morai in Atooi-Webber-Rumsey-S
A Morai in Atooi-Webber-Rumsey-S
Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii, bringing presents to Captain Cook-John_Webber-1779
A Morai in Atooi-Webber-Rumsey
A Morai in Atooi-Webber-Rumsey
Heiau_at_Waimea_by_John_Webber-1778-79
Heiau_at_Waimea_by_John_Webber-1778-79
Kealakekua-John Webber art-1779
Kealakekua-John Webber art-1779
View of the Sandwich Islands_Webber-Achorage at Atooi-400
View of the Sandwich Islands_Webber-Achorage at Atooi-400
Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii, bringing presents to Captain Cook-John_Webber-1779
Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii, bringing presents to Captain Cook-John_Webber-1779
A_view_of_Karakokooa,_in_Owyhee_by_John_Webber
A_view_of_Karakokooa,_in_Owyhee_by_John_Webber
A_Canoe_of_the_Sandwich_Islands,_the_Rowers_Masked_by_John_Webber_1779
A_Canoe_of_the_Sandwich_Islands,_the_Rowers_Masked_by_John_Webber_1779
A_man_of_the_Sandwich_Islands_dancing_by_John_Webber-1778
A_man_of_the_Sandwich_Islands_dancing_by_John_Webber-1778
A_Man_of_the_Sandwich_Islands_in_a_Mask_by_John_Webber_ca_1784_
A_Man_of_the_Sandwich_Islands_in_a_Mask_by_John_Webber_ca_1784_
An_offering_before_Capt._Cook,_in_the_Sandwich_Islands._Drawn_by_J._Webber-1778
An_offering_before_Capt._Cook,_in_the_Sandwich_Islands._Drawn_by_J._Webber-1778
C.1779, John Webber art, Kealakekua Bay and Hawaiian people.
C.1779, John Webber art, Kealakekua Bay and Hawaiian people.
Surfing_Cook_Hawaii_John_Webber-1778
Surfing_Cook_Hawaii_John_Webber-1778

Filed Under: Prominent People, Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks Tagged With: Hawaii, Captain Cook, John Webber, James Cook

March 12, 2012 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

John Webber Images of Old Hawaiʻi

John Webber (1751 – 1793)
John Webber served as official artist on Captain James Cook’s third voyage of discovery around the Pacific (1776-1780) aboard HMS Resolution.
On this voyage, during which Cook lost his life in a fight in Hawai‘i.
Webber became the first European artist to make contact with Hawai‘i, then called the Sandwich Islands.
He made numerous watercolor landscapes of the islands of Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i, and also portrayed many of the Hawaiian people.
I have uploaded a number of John Webber images (landscapes, portraits and other scenes) into a folder of like name in my Facebook Photos section.
www.facebook.com/people/Peter-T-Young/1332665638

Filed Under: Prominent People Tagged With: Hawaii, Captain Cook, John Webber

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

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