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James Cook

3 of 5 portraits by John Webber

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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James Cook

by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after John Webber
line engraving, published 1 January 1784
19 1/8 in. x 24 1/8 in. (486 mm x 612 mm) plate size; 19 3/4 in. x 24 3/4 in. (501 mm x 630 mm ) paper size
Bequeathed by (Frederick) Leverton Harris, 1927
Reference Collection
NPG D14634

Sitterback to top

  • James Cook (1728-1779), Circumnavigator. Sitter associated with 15 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Francesco Bartolozzi (1727-1815), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 165 portraits, Sitter in 16 portraits.
  • John Webber (1751-1793), Landscape painter and draughtsman on Cook's third voyage. Artist or producer associated with 5 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This is a historical work of art which reflects the attitudes and viewpoints of the time in which it was made. Whilst these may differ from today's attitudes, this image is an important historical document. This image is currently being researched, further information about this image will be updated below.

Placesback to top

Events of 1784back to top

Current affairs

Theatre proprietor and postal reformer John Palmer runs the first mail coach in England, between Bristol and London. A three day journey is now completed in 16 hours.
Commutation Act reduces punitive duties on tea to combat smuggling.

Art and science

Aeronaut James Sadler makes the first hot air balloon flight in Britain, from Oxford to Woodeaton.
Chemist Henry Cavendish's paper Experiments on Air reveals the composition of water.
Writer Samuel Johnson dies.
Joshua Reynolds succeeds Allan Ramsay as Painter to the King.

International

Thomas Jefferson's Land Ordinance passed by the United States' Continental Congress, coming into effect the following year. It allows for the sale of land in the largely unmapped west of the country.
Britain receives its first bales of cotton from the United States since before the War of American Independence.
William Pitt's India Act creates a Board of Control to oversee the affairs of the British East India Company and centralise power.

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