Island of Moorea, September 30, 1777”

After first visiting Matavai Bay on the island of Tahiti, Captain Cook took the Resolution and Discovery to the island of Moorea, some twelve miles distant. This painting shows what is probably the most beautiful bay in the world. When I visited here and stood near the spot of this painting, I was struck by the incredible beauty of the white sand and crystalline water, as it went from sandy white through turquoise to a deep cobalt blue. The volcanic mountain ridges seemed to add to the mystery of the south seas with its dragon back spires. A Tahitian woman leaves her tapa cloth clothing on a nearby palm as she fishes in the shallows of the bay. It was a common task of the Tahitian women, to simply grab a trident and wade out to get the family' supper. To do this, the valuable tapa clothing would be left ashore to protect it from the water. In the deepest corner of the bay, Captain Cook’s ships found safe anchorage where repairs and reprovisioning could be done.

Image Size: 14” X 18” ; unf...$2000.00