John Webber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Webber
Born	6 October 1751 London, England
Died	29 May 1793 (aged 41) London, England
Education	Paris, France
Known for	Painting
Notable work	"Resolution and Discovery in Ship Cove, 1778"; "A Party from H.M.S. Resolution shooting sea horses", Kealakekua Bay and the Village Kowroaa

John Webber (6 October 1751 – 29 May 1793) was an English artist. He joined Captain Cook on his third big trip across the Pacific Ocean. Webber is well known for his paintings of places like Australasia, Hawaii, and Alaska.

About John Webber

John Webber was born in London, England. He went to school in Bern, Switzerland. Later, he studied painting in Paris, France. His father, Abraham Wäber, was a sculptor from Switzerland. He moved to London and changed his name to Webber.

Webber's Journeys with Captain Cook

Webber became the official artist for James Cook's third journey of discovery. This journey explored the Pacific Ocean from 1776 to 1780. Webber sailed on a ship called HMS Resolution.

In January 1777, the ship stopped at Adventure Bay, Tasmania. There, Webber drew pictures of local people. He also made many drawings of scenes in New Zealand and the South Sea islands. During this trip, Captain Cook sadly lost his life in Hawaii. Webber was the first European artist to visit Hawaii, which was then called the Sandwich Islands. He created many watercolor paintings of the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. He also painted many of the Hawaiian people.

In April 1778, Captain Cook's ships, Resolution and Discovery, stopped at Ship Cove. This place is now known as Nootka Sound in Vancouver Island, Canada. The crew fixed their ships and met the local people. Webber made watercolor paintings, including "Resolution and Discovery in Ship Cove, 1778". His drawings and paintings were later made into engravings. These were used in the British Admiralty's book about the expedition, which came out in 1784.

Back in England

Webber returned to England in 1780. He showed about 50 of his artworks at the Royal Academy of Arts between 1784 and 1792. He became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1785. Then, in 1791, he became a full member. Most of his works were landscapes, which are paintings of natural scenery. Sometimes, he included people in his paintings. For example, "A Party from H.M.S. Resolution shooting sea horses" was shown in 1784. His painting "The Death of Captain Cook" became very famous through an engraving. Another version of this painting is in the William Dixson gallery in Sydney, Australia.

Where to See Webber's Art

Many museums around the world have John Webber's artwork. Some of these include the Anchorage Museum in Alaska and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The Honolulu Museum of Art and the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts also have his pieces. You can also find his art at the Yale University Art Gallery and the British Museum in London. The National Maritime Museum in London and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa also display his works.

Australian Collections

Several places in Australia also hold Webber's art. The National Portrait Gallery (Australia) has portraits like William Bligh and Captain James Cook. The Australian National Maritime Museum has View of Huaheine. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has A View in Otaheite Peha.

The National Library of Australia has many of his works. These include Sea Otter, A Woman of Pulo Condore, and Portrait of Captain John Gore. They also have Poedua, Daughter of Orea, King of Ulietea, Society Islands, and Portrait of Captain James King. Other works there are A Dance in Otaheite, A Woman of Van Diemen's Land, and A Chief of the Sandwich Islands. You can also see The Resolution Beating Through the Ice there.

The Dixson Library has An Opossum of Van Diemen's Land and Red-tailed Tropic Bird. They also have The Death of Captain Cook. The National Gallery of Victoria displays A Night Dance by Men, in Hapaee, A Young Woman of the Sandwich Islands, and A Man of Van Diemen's Land.

Works

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  'A Chief of the Sandwich Islands' (oil), 1787, National Library of Australia

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  'Abbey Mill, Shrewsbury' (oil)

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  Kealakekua Bay and the Village Kowroaa, 1779 ink wash and watercolor by John Webber, Honolulu Museum of Art

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  John Webber's Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Captain Cook 1784

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  John Webber's Sea Otter

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  John Webber's Captain Cook, oil on canvas, 1776 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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  John Webber's James Cook, before 1793

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  Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound, 1788 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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  John Webber's Man of Nootka Sound

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  John Webber's 'The Death of Captain Cook'

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See also

In Spanish: John Webber para niños