John Webber was an English artist who accompanied Captain James Cook on his third Pacific voyage from 1776 to 1780, and is most famous for his depictions of scenes in the Pacific. Born in London in 1751, Webber studied landscape painting in Paris before returning to London, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Arts.
In 1776, he was appointed as the official artist on Cook's third voyage. During this expedition, Webber visited and sketched many locations in the Pacific, including the Hawaiian Islands, the South Pacific islands, the west coast of North America, and the Arctic. His artworks are some of the first and most important images of these regions as witnessed by Europeans and were crucial in shaping European perceptions of the Pacific cultures and landscapes.
Webber’s works from the voyage include landscapes, portraits, and scenes of indigenous peoples' daily lives. His paintings and drawings were engraved and published upon his return to London, contributing significantly to his fame. These images provided Europeans with a visual understanding of the distant lands Cook had explored.
After the voyage, Webber continued to work as an artist in London. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and produced a variety of works, from portraits to historical scenes. Despite his contributions to art and exploration, Webber died relatively young, at the age of 42 in 1793. His works remain an important legacy and are held in collections worldwide, including the National Library of Australia and the British Museum.
