Monday 10 August 2015

Portrait of Captain James Cook by John Webber (1780)


I think this portrait of Cook is quite striking – and, of course, Cook has an important part in the history of New Zealand.

This artist actually sailed with Cook on his third and final voyage on the Resolution.

This is one of 3 portraits Webber did of Cook – you'll find the original at Te Papa in Wellington.  The others are in the National Portrait Galleries of London and Canberra.

Cook came to a very sticky end – and to me, this portrait shows him as a man who is careworn and a tad grumpy.  What do you think?

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