James Basire Art

"A Dance in Otaheite" (Tahiti) is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It is a plate in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. Two women and two men wearing ceremonial costumes, performing a dance outdoors standing on a mat. Three men are playing the drums in the background, in front of a thatched roof building. An audience of men are sitting on both sides of the stage. By the time Webber arrived in Tahiti, 'south sea' imagery had become familiar. Webber gave concentrated attention to dance. He had the opportunity to distinguish the Tahitian dance from the more formalized dancing of Tonga. Whereas they seem to have called to mind the more formal dances of antiquity, the Tahitian dancing aroused memories of peasant and folk dancing. This engraving is professionally framed in Koa wood. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii, but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. The print is in excellent condition. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and double mats (LU117324682432, LU117324684052, LU117324684062). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...

Artist: Thomas Dunham Whitaker (English, 1759-1821) Title: "East View of Peel Castle" (Vol. 2, Plate 41) Portfolio: An History of Richmondshire, in the North Riding of the County of York; together with those parts of the Everwicschire of Domesday which form The Wapentakes of Lonsdale, Ewecross, and Amunderness, in the Counties of York, Lancaster, and Westmoreland Year: 1822, (published 1823) (First edition) Medium: Original Engraving on wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Thomas Davison, London, England Publisher: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, London, England; Hurst, Robinson, & Co., London, England; Robinson & Hernaman, Leeds, England Framing: Not framed, but matted with hand decorated archival French matting and shrink-wrapped Matted size: 15.57" x 19.07" Sheet size: approx. 10.63" x 16.13" Image size: 7" x 11" Condition: Has been stored away for decades. A strong impression in excellent condition Notes: Provenance: private collection - Aspen, CO. Engraved by English artist John Roffe (1769-1850) after a drawing by English artist John Buckler (1770-1851). Comes from Whitaker's two volume "An History of Richmondshire", (1818-1823) (First edition), which consists of 45 engravings. Printed from one copper plate in one color: black. Old price tag lower center. Peel Castle is a castle in Peel in the Isle of Man, originally constructed by Norwegians. The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle, which is connected to the town by a causeway. It is now owned by Manx National Heritage and is open to visitors during the summer. Biography: Thomas Dunham Whitaker (8 June 1759 – 18 December 1821) was an English clergyman and topographer who was Vicar of Whalley, from 1809 and Blackburn, from 1818. He undertook landscape improvements in the Cliviger area, and oversaw the planting of approximately half a million trees between 1785 and 1815, winning the gold medal of the Society of Arts for planting 64,000 larches in one year. Born at Raynham, Norfolk, on 8 June 1759, he was the son of William Whitaker (1730–1782), curate of Raynham, Norfolk, and his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Dunham, and widow of Ambrose Allen. In 1760, his father moved to his ancestral house at Holme, in the township of Cliviger, Lancashire, and the boy was, in November 1766, placed under the care of the Rev. John Shaw of Rochdale. In November 1774, after spending a short time with the Rev. William Sheepshanks of Grassington in Craven, he was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge, and went into residence in October 1775. He took the degree of LL.B. in November 1781. His intention to enter the legal profession changed on the death of his father in the following year, when he settled at Holme. Whitaker was ordained in 1785, but remained without pastoral charge until 1797, when he was licensed to the perpetual curacy of Holme Chapel, where he had rebuilt the chapel at his own cost in 1788. He completed his degree of LL.D. in 1801. In 1809 he became vicar of the extensive parish of Whalley, Lancashire. The rectory of Heysham, near Lancaster, was presented to him in January 1813. He resigned it in 1819. On 7 November 1818 he became vicar of Blackburn, a benefice he retained, together with Whalley, until his death. When settled at Holme he instituted a local literary club. He had influence with the people of his parishes, and on several occasions exerted it to quell disturbances, particularly at Blackburn in 1817. For his 'patriotic services' he was presented with a public testimonial in April 1821. He was also very interested in topography and forestry, writing books on the subjects. In 1818, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society as "a Gentleman well versed in various Branches of Natural Knowledge being desirous of becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society". Whitaker married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Thoresby of Leeds, on 13 January 1783. The couple had several children, of whom one, Robert Nowell Whitaker, also became vicar of Whalley. Whitaker died at Blackburn vicarage on 18 December 1821, and was interred at Holme. A monument raised by public subscription was placed in the Church of St Mary and All Saints, Whalley in 1842. His library was sold at Sotheby's in 1823, and his coins and antiquities, with the exception of his Roman altars...

Artist: Francis Grose (English, 1731-1791) Title: "Bar Gate, Southampton" (Vol. III, Plate 32) Portfolio: The Antiquarian Repertory: A Miscellaneous Assemblage of Topography, History...

This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Lake Tahoe Panorama" shows a sequence of abstracted ripples of the calm Tahoe waters. Details: + Title: Lake Tahoe Panor...

Samuel Chamberlain was a superb draftsman and his architectural images are often very complex. This image is, by contrast, quiet and understated: serene to the point of lonely. It's ...

This is a hand-colored antique engraving depicting the natural history of the Tortoise-shell Butterfly and Privet Hawk Moth, which is plate 2 from Moses Harris' publication "The Aure...

Artist: Francis Grose (English, 1731-1791) Title: "The Bishop of Durham's Palace at Auckland" (Vol. IV, Plate 12) Portfolio: The Antiquarian Repertory: A Miscellaneous Assemblage of ...

This is a hand-colored antique engraving depicting the natural history of the Admirable Butterfly and the Small Magpie Moth, which is plate 6 from Moses Harris' publication "The Aure...

Artist: Colen Campbell (Scottish, 1676-1729) Title: "St Peters Church at Rome" (Vol. 1, Plate 6) Portfolio: Vitruvius Britannicus; or The British Architect, Containing the Plans, Ele...

Artist: William Cavendish (English, 1593-1676) Title: "Welbeck Park Belongs to the Marquis of Newcastle" (Plate 38, page 263) Portfolio: Methode et Invention Nouvelle de Dresser Les ...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Cockersand Abbey" (Plate 148) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Venerable Remains of Above 400 Castles...

Artist: Henri Le Sidaner (French, 1862-1939) Title: "La Nappe Rose (The Pink Tablecloth)" Portfolio: Henri Le Sidaner (Camille Mauclair) *Issued unsigned, though signed by Le Sidaner...