93 John Webber (1751–1793) – A Man of Van Diemen's Land – Engraving - Large Folio (1784)
This detailed ethnographic portrait captures the head and shoulders of a man encountered by Captain Cook's expeditionary crew in January 1777 at Adventure Bay, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), Australia. The portrait focuses on the man's facial features and visible traditional scarification marks on his chest and shoulders. The engraving is a direct rendering of an original drawing made on site by the expedition artist, forming a vital visual record of the Indigenous population encountered during the Age of Exploration. This print was published as part of the official, British Admiralty-sanctioned account of Captain James Cook's third and final voyage across the Pacific.
John Webber was an English landscape and portrait artist who served as the official artist on Captain James Cook's third voyage of discovery (1776–1780) aboard HMS Resolution. His official task was to create drawings of the people, places, and memorable scenes encountered, providing a visual record that was intended to supplement the written narrative. Upon returning to England, Webber was commissioned by the Admiralty to supervise the engraving and publication of his sketches, which resulted in the comprehensive atlas for A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.
Artist or Maker: John Webber
Dimensions: Approximately 28 × 22 cm
Medium: Engraving
Date: 1784
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 200 - 300 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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