The view of Huahine, one of the Society Islands in the South Seas

The painting by John Webber Jr., a descendant of a family of artists, feels like a journey to distant tropical islands that explorers had only just begun to discover in the 18th century.

The composition is quite dynamic and rich: ships, people in boats, mountains, and tall palm trees in the background. All of this adds a sense of bustle, yet at the same time conveys the vibrant atmosphere of a lively island in French Polynesia.

It is said that the painting was inspired by Captain Cook’s third voyage, during which British sailors visited the island. In fact, Cook was a great admirer of Huahine and is known to have visited it at least three times.