Portrait of James Cook
Painting by Nathaniel Dance-Holland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Portrait of James Cook is an oil on canvas portrait painting by the English Nathaniel Dance-Holland, from c. 1775.[1] It is held in the National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich.[2]
| Portrait of James Cook | |
|---|---|
| |
| Artist | Nathaniel Dance-Holland |
| Year | c. 1775 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 127 cm × 101.6 cm (50 in × 40.0 in) |
| Location | National Maritime Museum, London |
History and description
It depicts the British explorer and Royal Navy officer James Cook.[3][4] Known for his voyages in the Pacific Ocean and visits to New Zealand, Hawaii and elsewhere, he was subsequently killed in Hawaii in 1779. Dance-Holland spent many years in Italy before returning to Britain to become a leading portrait painter.[5]
Cook is portrayed seated in a room, with an open window into the sea. He is wearing the dress uniform of a captain and holds his own map of the Southern Ocean with his hand pointing to the eastern coast of Australia.[6]
