Morris (Artist), John Webber

A Night dance by women, in Hapaee

A Night dance by women, in Hapaee by Morris, John Webber

Artwork Detail

Ha’apai is one of the islands of Tonga, where Webber, the artist on Cook’s third Pacific voyage, sketched the locals and their customs. The exoticism of Polynesian dances made a strong impression on early European observers and they were widely written about and illustrated throughout the 19th century. The rather rigid formal structure of the

composition indicates the engraver’s ‘enhancement’ of Webber’s original study to emphasise the rhythmic movement and to dramatise the atmosphere of the event. (Te Moananui a Kiwa, 2005)

Title
A Night dance by women, in Hapaee
Artist/creator
Morris, John Webber
Production date
18th century
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
228 x 342 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
U/166
Other ID
U/166/A, O/463 Old Accession Number
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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