The Death of Captain James Cook, 14 February 1779

Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

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An unfinished painting showing the death of Captain James Cook, at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii at the hands of an incensed crowd, during his third Pacific voyage in the ships 'Resolution' and 'Discovery', 1776–1780. Cook is shown lying on the ground in the centre of the painting, wearing a blue coat and white breeches. The Hawaiians are mainly unclothed and some wear head-dresses. Cook spent a month on Hawaii where he was received with honour and various rites which he failed to understand as identifying his arrival as that predicted for Lono, a local deity. Having then left Hawaii he was forced back by storm and a broken mast, which caused confusion among the Hawaiians as not conforming to their understanding of the situation. Various thefts occurred and on 13 February 'Discovery's' cutter was stolen.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

The Death of Captain James Cook, 14 February 1779

Date

c.1795

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 137.2 x W 182.9 cm

Accession number

BHC0424

Acquisition method

National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)

Work type

Painting

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