“View of an Arched Rock, on the Coast of New Zealand; with an Hippa, or Place of Retreat, on the Top of it”
“View of an Arched Rock, on the Coast of New Zealand; with an Hippa, or Place of Retreat, on the Top of it” is an engraving that was originally drawn in 1769 by Sydney Parkinson, a Scottish botanical illustrator.
Parkinson was part of James Cook’s famous ‘Endeavor’ crew on their first voyage to explore the Pacific Ocean. Parkinson signed up as the crew’s botanical illustrator, though he captured much more than that, and donated his life in the process. He passed away in 1771 of dysentery on the return voyage home at just 26 years old.
In the drawing, Parkinson depicts a fortified Māori settlement, known as a Pā, that was built on an arch in Mercury Bay on the eastern side of the north island of New Zealand. If you look closely, you can see a small figure on top of the arch at the very right waving a cloth or flag. A small canoe with a sail can be seen below the arch. James Cook’s ‘Endeavor’ sailing ship is depicted in the background on the right. The arch has since collapsed.
This engraving was based on an ink wash on paper drawing by Parkson that was found in his journal. It was published in 1773 along with many other of Parkinson’s drawings in A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas by his brother, Stanfield.
Parkinson’s original drawing of “View of an Arched Rock, on the Coast of New Zealand; with an Hippa, or Place of Retreat, on the Top of it” is in the collections of the British Library in London, England.
For more on Sydney Parkinson, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
