• Title
  [Resolution and Discovery in the Arctic Sea, 1781] / oil painting by Thomas Luny
• Creator
  Thomas Luny, 1759-1837
• Call number
  ML 402
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1781
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Paintings
• Reference code
  413024
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 painting - 66 x 99.2 cm - oil on canvas, mauroflarged onto a wooden support
  
• Collection history
  The painting appears to have been held by the Art Gallery, till at least 1928, who was described as its owner in the 1928 Cook bibliography. It is not known when it subsequently came into the possession of the Mitchell Library. This item is listed amongst David Scott Mitchell's donations in The Public Library of New South Wales : annual report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st December 1900. Sydney : Public Library of New South Wales. Trustees, 1901.
• Scope and Content
  This painting has traditionally been said to depict the Resolution and Adventure in the Southern Oceans (it was so described in the 1928 "Bibliography of Captain James Cook", published by the Public Library of New South Wales). A plaque on its early twentieth century frame titles it "The Resolution and Adventure in the Southern Ocean".
  However a comparison with drawings made by John Webber of the activities of the Resolution and Discovery in the Arctic Sea between 11 August-3 September 1778 (see Bernard Smith and Rodgier Joppien's, "The Art of Captain Cook's Voyages", vol. 3 plates, pp. 506-513) strongly suggests that it depicts those ships during Captain Cook's third voyage.
  
  A Thomas Luny sketchbook held by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, contains three preliminary drawings, dated 1781 (the expedition had returned to England in 1780), for the painting. A profile drawing of the Discovery was initially described as the Adventure, before being corrected by the artist.
  An article, by J.F. Allan, about this issue, 'Thomas Luny and Cook's Resolution', was published in The Mariner's Mirror, vol.90 no.1 February 2004, pp.85-91.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright:
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• General note
  
  Oil painting and frame conserved with the generous support of the State Library of New South Wales Foundation, 2001-2002
  Digital order no:a128325
  
  Colour reproduction published by Library of N.S.W., 1970, (U30), filed at V*/Ships/Res/1
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Signed in black paint, at lower left, "T. Luny 1781"
• Name
  Discovery (ship : Captain = Charles Clerke)
  Resolution (Ship)
  
• Subject
  Cook, James, 1728-1779.
  David Scott Mitchell Collection.
  
• Topic
  exploration
  ships
  voyages & travels
  
• Place
  Arctic regions
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Captain Cook, R. N., the resolute mariner: an international record of oceanic discovery

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