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Description: | IU inscr. b. l. "Painted by Benjamin West"; inscr on plate b. r. "Engraved by T. R. Smith"; inscr on plate b. c. "Mr. Banks / Publish'd 15 April 1773 by S. Hooper No 25 Ludgate Hill, and T. R. Smith No 4 Exeter Court, Exeter Change, Strand" CRE SMITH, John Raphael; (English; 1752-1812) AFTER WEST, Benjamin; (American; 1738-1820) Sir Joseph Banks, a renowned botanist, was part of Captain Cook's first expedition to the Southern Seas. A friend of William Hunter, he gave him among others the skin of a kangoroo that he had painted by G. Stubbs in 1770. West painted the magnificent portrait (Usher Gallery) reproduced in this mezzotint in 1771, shortly after Banks' triumphant return from the South Seas. Banks chose to be represented surrounded by objects collected during this voyage. West rose to the challenge with brio, as shown by the skilful representation of the dazzling Maori coat on the sitter's shoulders, made from bark, on the sitter's shoulders. That Banks chose West for his portrait is an indication of the young man's ambition, as the artist was famous for his acclaimed depictions of contemporary heroes. | License: | http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/spirit/rights/ | Publisher: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Rights holder: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Subjects: | TAHITI : BOTANY : COLLECTOR : HEADDRESS : ETHNOGRAPHY : PORTRAIT : CAPTAIN COOK : OTAHEITI : | Source: | Hunterian Museum | Creator: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Identifier: | http://www.huntsearch.gla.ac.uk/cgi-bin/... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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