Art and Artifacts at Henry's

Two hundred and fifty years of the North Pacific – Cook’s engravers, Russian charts, and a room full of Alaska Native work.

Cook’s Voyages

Charts

Gordon Miller

Henry “Legs” LeGrue spent forty years filling the walls. What hangs here now runs from 18th-century copper engravings made on Cook’s third voyage through to contemporary Northwest Coast serigraphs, alongside a case of Alaska Native tools, baskets and carvings.

1778–1785

Cook's Voyages

Copper-plate engravings after John Webber, the artist Cook carried on his third voyage — the first European images of Unalaska and Kamchatka. Titles are engraved on the plates.

A Man of Oonalashka

Engraved by W. Sharp after John Webber

A Man of Kamtschatka Travelling in Winter, the Sledge being drawn by Dogs

Anderson’s folio edition of Cook’s Voyages

The Inside of a House, in Oonalashka

After John Webber

A View of the Town and Harbour of St Peter and St Paul, in Kamtschatka

Un Ours Blanc

French-captioned plate

Portrait of a woman, after John Webber

Two plates of baidarkas

Walrus hunt from a ship’s boat

Interior of a dwelling

Portrait of a man in a bentwood visor

Portrait of a woman in a fur ruff

Arctic coast with ice

Baidarka in heavy seas

1779–1899

Charting The North Pacific

Copper-plate engravings after John Webber, the artist Cook carried on his third voyage — the first European images of Unalaska and Kamchatka. Titles are engraved on the plates.

Chart of the N.W. Coast of America and the N.E. Coast of Asia, Explored in the Years 1778 and 1779

Cook’s own chart. Sub-titled North Part of the Pacific Ocean or Great South Sea.

Nouvelle Carte des Découvertes faites par des Vaisseaux Russes

French chart of the Russian discoveries, showing the Mer du Sud.

Alaska with parts of Siberia, Canada and Washington

Showing the route of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, 1899.

Partie Septentrionale de l’Océan Pacifique

Plate XXVI.

Chart of the Coast of N.W. America

1990–1997

Gordon Miller

Three signed prints, each of a documented moment in the maritime history of this coast. Every one arrived with a certificate carrying the artist’s note.

1993

The Bold Northwestman — Lady Washington at Ninstints

Original watercolour, 18″ × 29″. The original hangs in the collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

A well documented event of June 16, 1791 which became the subject of the first ballad written and sung about the north coast. Two years earlier, Captain Kendrick had humiliated Chief Coya of Ninstints village, Queen Charlotte Islands, and Coya was eager for revenge when the Lady Washington next anchored off the village.

1997

Santiago, July 19, 1774

Original oil, 28″ × 40″

The Santiago was the first and largest frigate built at San Blas, on Mexico’s west coast. On her maiden voyage she was commanded by Juan Perez, ordered to explore the west coast of North America as far as 60 degrees north latitude. On July 19, 1774, at 4:30 in the afternoon, the Santiago was approached by three canoes — the first recorded meeting of Europeans with the Haida.

1990

Off Thormanby Island — June 25, 1792

Original oil, 28″ × 40″

Captain George Vancouver, in the Discovery and Chatham, spent the summer of 1792 surveying the coasts of Washington and British Columbia. On June 24th they met off Point Grey and continued up the Straits in company with two Spanish vessels under Captain Galiano.

1778–1785