Tonga and Mangaia, Polynesia
18th century
Copper plate engraving
14 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. including mat; image 9 1/4 x 14 1/2 in.
36.8 x 49.5 cm including mat; image 23.5 x 36.8 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Stockholm
This 18th-century copper plate engraving relates to the published visual record of Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages, with subjects connected to Tonga and Mangaia. Such prints helped shape European understanding of Polynesia through scenes of landscape, encounter, dress, navigation, and ceremony. The image belongs to the wider body of voyage material produced for readers eager to see the islands described in Cook’s accounts.
The engraving is printed with controlled line work and tonal detail typical of late 18th-century expedition publications. Its mat preserves the image as a historical print while giving it a larger presentation format. As a modestly priced work on paper, it offers an accessible connection to early Pacific exploration and the printed history of Polynesia.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Tonga and Mangaia, Polynesia
18th century
Copper plate engraving
14 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. including mat; image 9 1/4 x 14 1/2 in.
36.8 x 49.5 cm including mat; image 23.5 x 36.8 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Stockholm
This 18th-century copper plate engraving relates to the published visual record of Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages, with subjects connected to Tonga and Mangaia. Such prints helped shape European understanding of Polynesia through scenes of landscape, encounter, dress, navigation, and ceremony. The image belongs to the wider body of voyage material produced for readers eager to see the islands described in Cook’s accounts.
The engraving is printed with controlled line work and tonal detail typical of late 18th-century expedition publications. Its mat preserves the image as a historical print while giving it a larger presentation format. As a modestly priced work on paper, it offers an accessible connection to early Pacific exploration and the printed history of Polynesia.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
