Britannia crowns Captain Cook, flanked by the Gods of Empire by PAAS, Cornelius - 1780

London: 53 High Holborn, 1780. Engraved plate, 327 x 210mm. (plate size), fine.

The mythology of discovery and empire. The full caption title reads: "Britannia seated on an eminence, with a lion at her feet. Neptune introduces Captain Cook, whom she instantly crowns with Laurel. Behind Britannia, History waits to record the New Discoveries".

In a curious coincidence of names, the engraver Cornelius Pass 'was barbarously murdered in a fight over an outstanding bill by James Cook, a bookbinder, at Leicester in May 1832' (British Map Engravers p.507).

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