Death of Captain James Cook at Kealakekua Bay, 1784, Paper

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A historical copper engraving depicting "the death of captain james cook, f.r.s. At owhyhee in mdcclxxix" (1779). This engraving is … Read more A historical copper engraving depicting "the death of captain james cook, f.r.s. At owhyhee in mdcclxxix" (1779). This engraving is particularly significant as it portrays the death of the famed british explorer captain james cook, who was killed at kealakekua bay on the big island of hawaii, then known to europeans as owhyhee. The print is from "captain cook's voyage, octavo edition," and was published on november 20, 1784. The artwork was drawn by d. P. Dodd and others who were present at the scene, and it was engraved by t. Cook. The publishers listed are j. Fielding, pater-noster row, scatcherd & whitaker ave maria lane, and j. Stockdall piccadilly. In the scene, the drama and chaos of cook's final moments are vividly captured. The foreground shows cook and his men in a struggle with hawaiian islanders. Captain cook can be seen in the center, having been struck and fallen to the ground, with a violent melee surrounding him. European sailors are depicted attempting to retreat to their boats amidst the confrontation. The background includes a view of the bay with the ships at anchor, and the distinctive hawaiian landscape provides context to the location. This engraving would have served as an important historical record for readers at the time, offering a visual account of the tragic end of one of the most famous explorers of the 18th century, whose voyages had a profound impact on western knowledge of the pacific regions. See less