Resolution Bay in the Marquesas (before title)

This engraving, after drawings by artist William Hodges, is in John Hawkesworth's account (1773) of the voyages of Captain James Cook, Joseph Banks and Captain John Byron.

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) made three separate voyages to the Pacific (with the ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery) and did more than any other voyager to explore the Pacific and Southern Ocean. Cook not only encountered Pacific cultures for the first time, but also assembled the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779.

William Hodges (1744 - 1797) joined Cook's second expedition to the South Pacific as a draughtsman 1772-75 and was employed by the Admiralty in finishing his drawings.

Cook traveled to the Marquesas in March of 1774. This drawing was likely done by Hodges between the 8th and 12th of April, 1774. The islanders in the canoe wear head-dresses of grass.

As recorded in Hawkesworth's account: ' Their canoes were made of wood and pieces of the Bark of a soft wood, which grows near the Sea in great plenty, and is very tough and proper for the purpose; They are from 16 to 20 feet long and about 15 inches broad. The head and stern is made of two pieces of Wood, the Stern rises or curves a little, but in an irregular direction and ends in a point; the head projects out horizontally and is car[v]ed into some faint and very rude resemblance of a human face. They are rowed by Paddles and some have a sort of Latteen sail made of Mating.' Cook, Journals II, 12 April, 1774.

Mounted in album with PAI2055-PAI2088, PAI2090-PAI2127.; No.33.

Object Details

ID: PAI2089
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Pouncy, Benjamin Thomas
Places: Unlinked place
Date made: 1777
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 235 x 389 mm; page: 590 mm x 460 mm
Parts: Volume of Plates to Cook's Voyages. Voyage II (Album)