John Webber

Place: London

Born: 1751

Death: 1793

Biography:

John Webber was a prominent English artist who accompanied Captain Cook on his third Pacific expedition. Born in London in 1751, Webber is best known for his images of Australasia, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Early Life and Education

was born in London, 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 a Mrs Mary Quant in 1744.

Career as an Artist

served as the official artist on James Cook's third voyage of discovery around the Pacific from 1776-80. During this time, he created numerous drawings and paintings of scenes in New Zealand and the South Sea islands. He also became the first European artist to make contact with Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich Islands.

• John Webber made watercolor landscapes of the islands of Kauai and Hawaii, including Kealakekua Bay and the Village Kowroaa, which is now part of the collection at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
• He also created a portrait of Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Captain Cook in 1784.
• John Webber's work was engraved for the British Admiralty's account of the expedition, which was published in 1784.

Later Life and Legacy

After returning to England in 1780, John Webber exhibited around 50 works at Royal Academy exhibitions between 1784 and 1792. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1785 and a full member in 1791. Most of his work were landscapes, but sometimes figures were included, such as in A Party from H.M.S. Resolution shooting sea horses, which was shown at the academy in 1784. Important collections holding works by John Webber include the Anchorage Museum of History and Art (Alaska), the Bishop Museum (Honolulu), and the British Museum. His Young Woman of the Sandwich Islands is in the San Antonio Museum of Art. https://Wikioo.org/@/John Webber https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3BBNR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Webber