Vestiaria coccinea (Iiwi or Scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper) 1778

John Webber made this watercolor and ink drawing of the Scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper, or Iiwi, around 1780. As an artist on Captain Cook’s voyages, Webber played a key role in shaping European perceptions of the Pacific. This image participates in the natural history tradition, but also speaks to the politics of exploration. The inscription in Dutch connects the bird to Cook’s voyage. These voyages were as much about scientific discovery as they were about colonial expansion. Webber’s image, therefore, is not a neutral depiction of nature, but an assertion of European dominance. To understand this image fully, we need to consider its place within the broader context of European colonialism and the scientific practices that enabled it. Examining ship logs, botanical records, and indigenous accounts would reveal the complex power dynamics at play. Webber’s Honeycreeper, therefore, provides insight into the intersection of art, science, and empire in the late 18th century.