Coastal Classics
View of Point Venus and Matavai Bay, Looking East
William Hodges
An atmospheric 18th-century coastal scene capturing the warm light and lush topography of Matavai Bay.
A View of Matavai Bay, Tahiti
William Hodges
1776 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A luminous 18th-century maritime landscape capturing the dramatic beauty of Matavai Bay, Tahiti.
$238
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From $129
4 frame sizes
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Where it works
A substantial, grounding work in a warmer tonal register — holds a formal wall with confidence.
- Often works in
- Study · Living Room · Office
- Placement
- Strongest on wider walls where it can anchor the room
- Walls
- Benefits from a distinct wall tone
- Color notes
- Warm beige, Rich brown, Aged gold
About the piece
Painted in 1776 by William Hodges, the official artist on Captain Cook's second voyage, this work depicts Tahitian war galleys and canoes in Matavai Bay. The scene is bathed in a warm, golden light that catches the crests of the waves and the jagged peaks of the island's volcanic interior, reflecting the Romantic era's fascination with the Pacific and the age of exploration.
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