Sir Joseph Banks

• Main Author: Joshua Reynolds
• Format: Still Image
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Painting; 18th century; British; portrait; portraits; portraiture; men; man; male; males; Endeavour; Pacific; Iceland
• Online Access: http://digital.libraries.psu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/arthist2/id/104019

Banks sailed with Captain Cook to the Pacific on his first voyage aboard the Endeavour, 1768-71, and compiled a unique natural history collection. He held a position of great influence in the scientific world, advising on ventures such as the Kew Botanic Gardens and the first British colonies in Australia. Banks sat to Reynolds in 1772 and again, after his voyage to Iceland, in 1773, and the freestanding globe in this portrait refers to his travels in search of botanical studies. The inscription on the letter reads CRAS INGENS ITERABIMUS AEQUOR, which may be translated as 'tomorrow we'll sail the vasty deep again'.