Lot 33260: Cleveley, Jukes, & Cook - View of Matavai Bay, Tahiti

This is one of the most exceptional engravings to result from Cook's Voyages. The engraving we believe is shows: "View of Matavai Bay, Tahiti." It was originally a watercolor by John Cleveley and then engraved by Francis Jukes. Francis Jukes was known as 'if not the inventor, certainly the first that brought [aquatint] to a degree of perfection' (The Gentleman's Magazine LXXXII, p. 300)

John Cleveley's watercolors are believed to be based upon his brother James's sketches. James Cleveley was the carpenter on Cook's third and final voyage. The prospectus also claimed that the views were drawn 'on the spot' by James before being "redrawn and inimitably painted in water-colours by his brother... John Cleveley, and from which the plates were engraved, in the best manner by Mr. Jukes." However, there is some debate on this attribution and it may be John Webber's sketches Clevely used.

"Cook's third voyage was organized to seek the Northwest Passage and to return [the islander] Omai to Tahiti. Officers of the crew included William Bligh, James Burney, James Colnett, and George Vancouver. John Webber was appointed artist to the expedition. After calling at Kerguelen Island, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Cook, Tonga, and Society Islands, the expedition sailed north and discovered Christmas Island and the Hawaiian Islands, which Cook named the Sandwich Islands. Cook charted the American west coast from Northern California through the Bering Strait as far north as latitude 70 degrees 44 minutes before he was stopped by pack ice. He returned to Hawaii for the winter and was killed in an unhappy skirmish with the natives over a boat. Charles Clarke took command and after he died six months later, the ships returned to England under John Gore. Despite hostilities with the United States and France, the scientific nature of this expedition caused the various governments to exempt these vessels from capture. The voyage resulted in what Cook judged his most valuable discovery - the Hawaiian Islands." (Hill)

~ 27 7/8" by 23"; Image area ~ 22" by 16 3/4"

Originally Hand-colored Engraving

1788

Overall Very Good. The color is in excellent condition. There is some weakening of the plate marks but more so to the left side. There is some light soiling in the margins. There are several closed tears at the edges but none are to the plate marks. There is a little paper loss at the lower right margin that is about 1/4" but has been replaced with like paper. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image provided carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.