Loutherbourg, Philippe Jacques de, 1740-1812 :The Apotheosis of Captain Cook from a design of P. J. de Loutherbourg, R. A. The view of Karakakooa Bay is from a drawing by John Webber R. A. (the last he made) in the collection of Mr G. Baker. London. Published January 20 1794 by J. Thane, Spur Street, Leicester Square

An allegorical elevation of the deceased Captain James Cook. Cook is floating above the scene of his death, Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, his hat in his right hand. On his right is Britannia and on his left the winged figure of Fame with a trumpet. Fame is crowning Cook with a laurel wreath. Below are the cliffs of Kealakekua Bay with smoke from the guns of the seamen in small boats offshore, while a fighting group is just visible onshore to the left. The Resolution and Discovery (Cook's ships on his third voyage) are standing offshore to the right.

Designed by John Webber, artist on Cook's last voyage, and de Loutherbourg for the stage spectacle of 'Omai or a trip round the world'. The final scene of this production required the allegorical elevation of Cook as a hero. It was published eight months after Webber's death. Mr George Baker, referred to in the title of the work, was a friend of Webber's and had a large collection of his drawings as well as related engravings. See Joppien and Smith: The Art of Captain Cook's Voyages, vol 3, p. 200-201.

This copy includes the lettering of the title below the image. The Library also has an earlier proof before lettering on the previous page of this volume, and a still earlier proof before lettering in the Drawings, Paintings and Prints collection, reference number B-085-007. The earliest version (B-085-007) lacks the rays of sunshine streaming out from the cloud above Fame, and has Cook holding his hat, rather than a sextant in his right hand. In B-085-007 the lines indicating the sky on the far right above the two ships end abruptly; in this final version the lines have been softened. The Library has a negative of the final version with lettering at 1/2-016988-F and it is reproduced in Joppien & Smith, op. cit, p. 201.

Other Titles - Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii Wouvermann

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - outside plate mark. Pencilled 163, written by the Library

Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s).

Physical Description: Engraving 265 x 219 mm (plate-mark) on sheet 445 x 294 mm (irregular)

Provenance: Collection of Alexander Turnbull?