View in Macao - COMBINED with 9137.
London: Boydell, 1809 (1820). One of two views of Macao published in John Webber's "Views in the South Seas", which has been called "the most striking publication resulting from Cook's expeditions". (Parsons Collection 136). Vide Cook's Last Voyage Vol. 3 Chap. 11. London. Pubd. April 1, 1809 by Boydell & Compy. No. 90 Cheapside. Impression mark 450 x 325 mm, on paper 500 x 363mm. Colored aquatint. Light foxing in the margins and some offsetting from the accompanying text page, which is drawn from the published account of the voyage. Both the print and letterpress are watermarked J. Whatman 1820. Joppien & Smith 3.372A.b.
Webber was engaged as the official artist for Cook's third voyage, during which Cook discovered Hawaii & Alaska. Webber was more fully trained than any of the artists of the previous voyages, and he and Cook worked closely together to illuminate "the unavoidable imperfections of written accounts, by enabling us to preserve, and to bring home, such drawings of the most memorable scenes of our transactions, as could only be expected by a professed and skilled artist." (J. Cook & J. King, Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, London 1784, Vol I, p.5). Because he was there with Cook in the field, his paintings "constituted a new visual source for the study of history..." (Smith, Bernard, Art as Information. Sydney, 1978). Cook's ships were the first Western contact with the natives of Nootka Sound and the furs they traded with them were sold at a vast profit in Macao in the following year, 1779. Soon American and English ships were making annual trips to the Northwest Coast in search of "Sea Beaver" pelts.
Only 16 views were published in the book - the two views of Macao indicate its significance in the East. Item #9138
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