Sydney Parkinson (1745? - 1771)

Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, [1768-1771]

Watercolour on paper, 460 x 295 mm.

At the young age of 22, the artist Sydney Parkinson was given the opportunity of a lifetime when he was asked to join one of the greatest scientific expeditions of all time, Captain Cook's voyage of discovery to the South Pacific (1768-1771).

During two years of the voyage, Parkinson produced hundreds of drawings and sketches of the animals and plants that were discovered. Tragically, Parkinson died from a fever on the return journey and so never received public acclaim for his monumental work.

More information

Larger image