Artwork Information

Sydney Parkinson was the artist on Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific between 1768 and 1771. Tragically he died at sea, but his watercolours were transformed into engravings to illustrate official accounts of the voyage. In this print a drawing by Parkinson of an imposing fara or pandanus tree recorded in Tahiti, has been combined with another sketch of an altar by the sea in Huahine, another of the Society Island group. The resulting composite scene typifies the picturesque portrayal of nature, with its variety of exotic trees while interest is provided by the altar and mourners. (Te Moananui a Kiwa, 2005)