A. Harriott after John Webber A Man of the Sandwich Islands

A. Harriott after John Webber

A Man of the Sandwich Islands, with his Helmet

pen and wash,

28cm x 23.5cm.

The identity of this man is said to be the Hawaiian chief Kana'ina, who was killed in the fighting following James Cook's death on 14th February 1779. The official artist on Cook's last voyage was John Webber, his drawings formed the basis for printed illustrations to the account of the voyage - 'A Voyage to the Pacific', published in 1784, engraved by various artists.