Cleveley James (2 results)

Paris: Bance ainé, c.1790. Aquatint with fine hand colour. 495 x 660mm. A few small tears repaired. A view of the 'Resolution' and 'Discovery', the ships of Captain James Cook's Third Voyage, at anchor, not in Queen Charlotte's Sound as stated in the title but in Matavi Bay, Tahiti. Underneath is an extract from Cook's journal in French. This aquatint is one of four etched by Benedikt Piringer (1780-1826) after a set of scenes of the Third Voyage published by Thomas Martyn in 1787-8. According to the original prospectus, were ''executed by the late celebrated Mr John Clevely, from accurate Drawings made by his Brother Mr James Clevely of the Resolution Ship of War''. The English titles of the set are: 'View of Huahine one of the Society Islands'; 'View of Morea one of the Friendly Islands'; 'View of Charlotte Sound in New Zealand'; and 'View of Owhyhee one of the Sandwich Islands', which shows the Death of Captain Cook. James Cleveley (not 'Clevely' as in the prospectus) was the Resolution's ship's carpenter but, despite being from a family of artists, none of the third voyage journals mention his as a draughtsman, and no original sketch of his exists. It has been suggested that his brother, John Cleveley the Younger (1747-86), who was the intermediary draughtsman (redrawing the original sketches for engraving) for the Official Account of the Second Voyage, used his friendship with Sir Joseph Banks to study John Webber's artwork and use them as the basis of his prints. Using his brother's participation in the voyage he could capitalise on the public interest with 'authentic' scenes.

Vue de l'ile Huaheim dans la Mer du Sud; "Vue de l'ile Marea une des Iles des Ami dans la Mer du Sud"; 3) "Vue du Detroit Charlotte dans la Nouvelle Zeland dan la Mer du Sud." (actually Matavi Bay, Tahiti]; "Mort du Capitaine Cook."Set of 4 hand-coloured aquatints measuring approx 465 by 600mm. Paris, chez Bance, c. A rare French set of four prints depicting scenes in the Pacific from Captain Cook's third and final voyage, including a depiction of Cook's death at the hands of Hawaiians. These are early and beautiful images of the South Seas, exemplary of the European fascination with Pacific exploration during the eighteenth century. Joppien and Smith call them "the kind of prints that anyone who travelled with Cook, whether officer, midshipman or able seaman, might want to possess to remind him and his family of the days when he travelled with Cook." According to the publisher's prospectus, these views were produced "on the spot" by James Cleveley, a carpenter aboard the Resolution, and "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, in the absence of any surviving drawings by James Cleveley, Joppien and Smith discount this claim, believing that the kinship between the two was, as far as these images are concerned, coincidental, being simply used to promote the prints, while no actual graphic link existed. John Cleveley was a talented maritime painter, and these images, engraved by F. Jukes are lovely representations of early contact between Europeans and Pacific islanders. Each print shows the Resolution and the Discovery at anchor in the Sandwich (Hawaiian) or Society islands. This French set, issued just a year later, all include lengthy captions describing each scene and placing it in relation to Cook's third voyage. The set includes: 1) "Vue de l'ile Huaheim dans la Mer du Sud." [A View of Huaheine.] Groups of English sailors are shown in rowboats or building temporary dwellings on the shore, as natives row out to meet the Resolution and Discovery. 2) "Vue de l'ile Marea une des Iles des Ami dans la Mer du Sud." [A View of Moorea.] Polynesians and English sailors are shown in the same small boats and working together on shore in this active scene. 3) "Vue du Detroit Charlotte dans la Nouvelle Zeland dan la Mer du Sud." [View of Charlotte Sound in New Zealand] on those prints issued with captions, this scene actually shows Matavi Bay, Tahiti. 4) "Mort du Capitaine Cook." [A View of Owijhee] This print depicts the death of Captain Cook. English sailors in rowboats fire at natives on the shore. Cook attempts to have his men cease fire, as a Hawaiian chieftain is about to stab him in the back. An important and rare collection of Pacific views. Joppien & Smith III, pp.216-221.