John Webber, a renowned English artist, is best known for his captivating images of Australasia, Hawaii, and Alaska. Born in London on October 6, 1751, Webber was educated in Bern and studied painting at Paris. His father, Abraham Wäber, a Swiss sculptor, had moved to London and changed his name to Webber before marrying Mrs. Mary Quant in 1744.
Early Career
Webber's artistic career began when he served as the official artist on James Cook's third Pacific expedition from 1776 to 1780 aboard HMS Resolution. During this voyage, he created drawings of "A Man of Van Diemen's Land" and "A Woman of Van Diemen's Land" at Adventure Bay in January 1777. He also drew many scenes in New Zealand and the South Sea islands. Webber became the first European artist to make contact with Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich Islands, and created numerous watercolor landscapes of the islands of Kauai and Hawaii.
Notable Works
Some of Webber's notable works include
A Party from H.M.S. Resolution shooting sea horses, which was shown at the Royal Academy in 1784, and
The Death of Captain Cook, which became well known through an engraving. Another version of this picture is housed at the
William Dixson gallery in Sydney. Webber's art is also held by several Australian institutions, including the
National Portrait Gallery, the
Australian National Maritime Museum, and the
Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- Important works include View of Huaheine (1784) and A Woman of Pulo Condore (1780).
- Webber's drawings and paintings were engraved for the British Admiralty's account of the expedition, which was published in 1784.
- He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1785 and became a full member in 1791.
Legacy
Webber's contributions to the world of art and exploration are significant. His works can be found in various institutions, including the
Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the
Museum of the Aleutians, and the
British Museum. For more information on John Webber's life and work, visit
or check out his biography on .
In addition to his artistic achievements, Webber's voyage with Captain Cook has been recognized as a significant event in the history of Pacific exploration. The Malaspina Expedition, led by Alejandro Malaspina, was also an important scientific expedition that explored much of the west coast of the Americas. For more on this expedition, visit .