Marking 250 years since Captain James Cook’s ship the Endeavour set sail from Plymouth, this British Library exhibition will tell the story of Cook’s three transformative voyages through original documents, many of which were produced by the artists, scientists and seamen on board the ship, as well as newly commissioned films offering 21st-century perspectives.
From Cook’s journal detailing the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle to handwritten log books, artwork and maps, this exhibition will chart the voyages, which spanned more than a decade, and shed light on the experiences of people on the ship and in the places visited. Drawings by the Polynesian high priest and navigator Tupaia, who joined the first voyage at Tahiti and accompanied Cook to New Zealand and Australia, will be going on public display for the first time together, alongside works by expedition artists Sydney Parkinson, John Webber and William Hodges. Find out more about the James Cook exhibition from the British Library’s website.
Tahitian Scene (18th century), Tupaia. © British Library Board
Snug Corner Cove (18th century), John Webber. © British Library Board
Cook’s Chart of New Zealand (18th century). © British Library Board
Banks and a Maori (18th century), Tupaia. © British Library Board
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