The Ceremonial Offering to Captain Cook in Hawaii, Engraved in 1778

€ 490

One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.

Date: 1778
Sheet size: 19 × 23.5 cm (7.5 × 9.3 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-13597-28

Condition

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or light fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

About this sheet

This detailed antique engraving, titled "An Offering Before Captain Cook in the Sandwich Islands," captures a significant historical encounter from Captain James Cook's voyages. The artwork, based on a drawing by John Webber, who accompanied Cook, was skillfully translated into print by the combined talents of Samuel Middiman for the landscape and John Hall for the figures. Created around 1778, this scene illustrates a moment where indigenous Hawaiian men present offerings of suckling pigs to Captain Cook and his European companions. A towering figure wearing an imposing mask stands sentinel behind the Europeans, symbolizing the cultural richness and ceremonial traditions of the Hawaiian people. The scene is framed by native palms and lush tropical vegetation, with a typical steep-roofed thatched building enclosed by a fence in the background, hinting at the architectural styles of the era. This print, marked by 'Walker sculp', offers a poignant visual narrative of cultural exchange in the age of exploration.