George Stubbs paintings of Kongouro and (inset) Large Dog

Artistic Legacy of George Stubbs’ ‘Kongouro‘ and ‘Large Dog’ Paintings

In 1773, the paintings of a Kangaroo and Dingo made their public debut in London, becoming the first artistic representations of these now-classic Australian animals in Western art. Commissioned by Sir Joseph Banks following his participation in Captain James Cook’s first Pacific voyage (1768–1771), these paintings mark a pivotal moment in European exploration and natural history.

Both works were created by George Stubbs, Britain’s preeminent animal painter of the 18th century, just two years after Banks returned from the voyage. The pair has remained together in the UK ever since.

The Kongouro from New Holland (Kangaroo) – First Art from Captain Cook’s Voyage

The Kongouro from New Holland George Stubbs 1772
The Kongouro from New Holland George Stubbs 1772

The First British Voyage of Scientific Discovery

Cook’s first voyage aboard the Endeavour signaled the beginning of a new era of European maritime exploration. While economic and political motives played a role, the primary goal was scientific: to map uncharted lands and collect specimens of unknown flora, fauna, and cultures.

These expeditions were akin to floating laboratories, carrying scientists, artists, and seamen who diligently recorded what they discovered. The voyages epitomized the ideals of the Enlightenment, blending art and science in the pursuit of knowledge.

A view of Endeavour River on the coast of New Holland - William Byrne 1773
A view of Endeavour River on the coast of New Holland – William Byrne 1773

Of Cook’s three major voyages, it was the first that revealed the most dramatic discoveries, including new lands, species, and peoples. The journey’s success was largely thanks to Joseph Banks, a key figure in European natural history. Banks’ entourage included two artists and a botanist, who produced a wealth of scientific drawings, including over 1000 illustrations of plants and animals. Sadly, both artists died during the voyage, leaving behind unfinished work that remained in Banks’ private collection for decades.

Portrait of a Large Dog - Dingo Stubbs 1772
‘Portrait of a Large Dog’ – Dingo Stubbs 1772

Stubbs and the Artistic Significance of Kangaroo and Dingo

On his return to England Banks recognized the importance of immortalizing these newfound species and so commissioned George Stubbs to paint Kongouro from New Holland and Portrait of a Large Dog. Stubbs, known for his equestrian portraits and scientific precision, was the ideal artist for the task. Although he typically painted from life, Stubbs had to rely on Banks’ descriptions, slight pencil sketches made by Sydney Parkinson (one of Banks’ artists on the voyage), and a stuffed kangaroo pelt that was part of Banks’ collection. Despite these limitations, Stubbs managed to produce what would become the most significant artistic representations of Australian fauna in European art.

Stubbs’ Kangaroo and Dingo paintings were exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1773, immediately captivating the public. The novelty of these “alien” animals from a distant, unknown land sparked widespread fascination.

An engraving of Kangaroo was soon featured in John Hawkesworth’s An Account of the Voyages Undertaken for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere (1773), the first major publication to come from Cook’s expedition.

The image quickly became the standard representation of the kangaroo throughout the 19th century.

Joseph Banks: Patron of Science and the Arts

Joseph Banks’ influence on European natural history cannot be overstated.

After his return from the Endeavour voyage, Banks displayed his ever-growing collection of specimens and artworks in his home at 32 Soho Square, London. This house became a hub of scientific activity, where European scientists, politicians, and artists would meet.

Sir Joseph Banks

Alongside his iconic portrait of Captain Cook by Nathaniel Dance, Banks prominently displayed Stubbs’ Kangaroo and Dingo, making these pair of paintings part of a cultural and scientific exchange that shaped the course of British and world history.

Captain James Cook, 1776, Nathaniel Dance, oil on canvas, 127 x 106 cm. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Captain James Cook, 1776, Nathaniel Dance

Banks played a vital role in institutions like the Royal Society and the Society of Artists, and his collections formed the foundation for future scientific research. Many of the surviving botanical artworks from Cook’s Endeavour voyage are still held today in the Botany Library of the Natural History Museum, London.

The Lasting Legacy of Stubbs’ Kangaroo and Cook’s Voyages

Stubbs’ Kangaroo and Dingo not only embody the fusion of art and science but also represent the profound impact of Cook’s voyages. These images captured the imagination of the British public and became symbols of the new world of Australia. The broader influence of Cook’s expeditions is reflected even in modern times – NASA’s fifth Space Shuttle was named Endeavour after Cook’s ship, underscoring the legacy of exploration that these voyages left behind.

In 2011, the Space Shuttle Discovery, named after one of Cook’s later ships, carried the Cook Medal (1784) from the National Maritime Museum’s collection on its final mission. For 18th-century Europeans, Australia was as distant and mysterious as outer space is today, and Stubbs’ paintings offered a glimpse into this strange, unfamiliar world.

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