Francis Jukes (British, 1745-1812) after John Cleveley

Description

The Death of Captain Cook, Owhyhee [Hawaii], one of the Sandwich Islands in the South Seashand-coloured aquatint on paper42 x 58.5cmFootnote: The scene depicts the skirmish in which Captain Cook lost his life at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii on 14th February 1779. This is one of a set of four plates in Cleveley's well-known series depicting Captain Cooke's 3rd voyage to the Pacific. John Cleveley's watercolours, from which the plates were engraved by Jukes, were originally thought to be based on sketches by his brother, James, who was a carpenter aboard Resolution. As the captions state, the images were "Drawn on the spot by Jas. Clevely[sic]". It is now believed, however, that the scenes are inventions devised by John Cleveley from other images and accounts of Cook’s death.Two and half years into his 3rd voyage, Cook anchored his ships, Resolution and Discovery, in Kealakekua Bay in January 1779. The relations between the Hawaiians and Europeans remained peaceful during the expedition’s stay. Shortly after departing Kealakekua, however, Cook had to return to make repairs and relations then deteriorated. Things came to a head when Cook decided to force the return of a stolen ship’s cutter by taking the Hawaiian king hostage. He went ashore with ten men to bring the plan into effect; shots were fired and a Hawaiian chief was killed. Cook and his men were attacked as they retreated to their boats. Cook shot and killed another warrior and in return was stabbed.Condition report: Framed 56 x 72.5cm