© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
Captain Cook's Tablet at Cape Solander, Botany Bay, New South Wales, 1839
G E. Madeley after John Lhotsky
Portrait, lithograph on paper
Purchased 2018
The hand of Captain Cook
Google Arts and Culture
Learning resources
Take a close look at a portrait with a hidden message in its hands. For Year 7 – 9 students.
'The portraits of Captain Cook'
An interview with Betty Churcher
Portrait story
Betty Churcher describes the creation of the portrait of Captain James Cook in the National Portrait Gallery.
Captain Cook
'The photojournalists of their time'
Portrait story
An exploration of the role of artists such as John Webber who, whilst a member of Cook’s crew over many voyages, created paintings and drawings of the situations and people the explorers encountered.
View of Owhyhee in the Sandwich Islands in the south Seas (The Death of Cook), 1787-1788
Francis Jukes after John Cleveley
Portrait, aquatint, hand coloured on paper
Purchased with funds provided by the Liangis family 2012
Cook, n.d.
an unknown artist after Antoine Maurin
Portrait, engraving, hand coloured on paper
Gift of Ted and Gina Gregg 2012
Captain James Cook from the original in the Naval Gallery, Greenwich Hospital, c. 1837
William Holl, Peter Jackson, London & Paris after Nathaniel Dance
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ted and Gina Gregg 2012
Captain James Cook, 1837
William Holl, Fisher, Son & Co London after Nathaniel Dance
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ted and Gina Gregg 2012
Le Cap.ne Jacques Cook, Membre de la Société Royale des Londres, c. 1778
Robert Bénard
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Gina and Ted Gregg 2010
Captain James Cook FRS, 1784
Thomas Cook
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Gina and Ted Gregg 2010
Thrown together
Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009
Shipmates for years, James Cook and Joseph Banks each kept a journal but neither man shed light on their relationship.
Cook in context
Magazine article by Diana Warnes, 2007
Robert Oatley's continuing benefaction has helped the National Portrait Gallery acquire works that add another layer to the story of Captain Cook.
Captain James Cook, engraving after John Webber, 1784
Francesco Bartolozzi after John Webber
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Robert Oatley AO 2007
The Death of Captain Cook, 1784
Francesco Bartolozzi, William Byrne after John Webber
Portrait, engraving on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Robert Oatley AO 2007
Jasperware medallion of Captain James Cook, 1779
Wedgwood and Bentley
Portrait, white on blue Jasper Ware in oval shaped wood and gilt frame
Purchased with funds provided by Robert Oatley AO 2007
The Royal Society medal in commemoration of Captain James Cook, 1784
Lewis Pingo
Portrait, silver medal
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Robert Oatley AO 2007