In 1781 Webber announced that he intended to publish an engraving of the death of Captain Cook, to be engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi. He advertised that the 'Drawing was taken on the Spot; the Landscape is from Nature; and the Circumstances of that most unfortunate Event (of which Mr. Webber was an Eye-Witness) are told with the utmost Fidelity." St James Chronicle or the British Evening Post, April 12 1781.
The engraving was published in 1784 as The Death of Captain Cook: see DL Pf 61 for a version of this engraving in the Library's collection.
It is unclear if this painting is the basis of the engraving, or if it was made after the engraving, as a copy of it. Webber exhibited and sold a number of oils relating to Pacific voyages after his return to London, but there is no reference to this work: see the Getty Research Institute provenance index https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/provenance/search.html.
It is possible that this painting is a copy by an unknown artist of Webber's print. Stylistically it does not seem to accord with the quality of Webber's known and confirmed works. This question remains open....

Work is unsigned and undated.

Cleaned Jan 2008
Frame repaired following minor damage, 2011

Presented by Sir William Dixson, 1929

Terra Australis : the furthest shore

People and Places

Possessed : an exhibition of treasures

Swiss Artists in Australia : 1777-1991

Cook & Omai : the cult of the South Seas

Le Mystere Laperouse : enquete dans le Pacifique Sud

In 1776, John Webber (1752-1793) was appointed topographical artist on the Resolution and sailed with James Cook on the third voyage, 1776-1780.