Portrait of James Cook
| Portrait of James Cook | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Nathaniel Dance-Holland |
| Year | c. 1775 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 127 cm × 101.6 cm (50 in × 40.0 in) |
| Location | National Maritime Museum, London |
Portrait of James Cook is an oil on canvas portrait painting by the English Nathaniel Dance-Holland, from c. 1775.[1] It is held in the National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich.[2]
History and description
It depicts the British explorer and Royal Navy officer James Cook.[3][4] Known for his voyages in the Pacific Ocean and visits to New Zealand, Hawaii and elsewhere, he was subsequently killed in Hawaii in 1779. Dance-Holland spent many years in Italy before returning to Britain to become a leading portrait painter.[5]
Cook is portrayed seated in a room, with an open window into the sea. He is wearing the dress uniform of a captain and holds his own map of the Southern Ocean with his hand pointing to the eastern coast of Australia.[6]
References
- ^ Quilley & Bonehill p.132
- ^ National Maritime Museum
- ^ Hamilton p.83
- ^ Moon p.138
- ^ Palmer p.87
- ^ National Maritime Museum
Bibliography
- Hamilton, James C. Captain James Cook and the Search for Antarctica. Pen and Sword History, 2020.
- Moon, Paul. A Draught of the South Land: Mapping New Zealand from Tasman to Cook.
- Palmer, Allison Lee. Historical Dictionary of Neoclassical Art and Architecture. Scarecrow Press, 2011.
- Quilley, Geoff & Bonehill, Jane (ed.) William Hodges 1744-1797: The Art of Exploration. Yale University Press, 2004.