the collector's folio

William Hodges Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by William Hodges our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide William Hodges · 1744 – 1797

[Waterfall in Dusky Bay with Maori canoe]

1776 · Te Papa, Wellington

Experience the romantic majesty of William Hodges' 1776 depiction of a waterfall and Maori canoe in Dusky Bay; discover this rare piece of early Pacific exploration art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

The Taj Mahal

1780 · National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi · original 495 x 890 cm

An ethereal 18th century vista of the Taj Mahal by William Hodges captures the sublime beauty of Islamic architecture set against a serene river landscape, inviting you to bring this historic masterpiece into your home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18141 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

The Ghauts at Benares; View of part of the City of Benares on the River Ganges, in the East Indies; The Ghats at Benares

View the most popular artwork of William Hodges ranked #3: The Ghauts at Benares; View of part of the City of Benares on the River Ganges, in the East Indies; The Ghats at Benares

1787 · Royal Academy of Arts, London

William Hodges’ ‘The Ghauts at Benares’ presents a romanticized view of colonial India through Neoclassical painting conventions, showcasing the city's ghats and river scene. Explore this 1787 artwork by Hodges, a pivotal figure in British landscape art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

A View in Dusky Bay, New Zealand

1773 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 81 x 6 cm

William Hodges’s ‘A View in Dusky Bay’ captures the sublime beauty of 18th-century New Zealand with a pioneering oil painting depicting Māori culture and a romantic landscape, offering a unique glimpse into early exploration.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18132 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Jaques and the Wounded Stag: 'As You Like It,' Act II, Scene I

1790 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 92.1 x 123.2cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$495123 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Storm on the Ganges, with Mrs. Hastings near the Col-gon Rock

1790 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 127.0 x 182.9cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$850183 × 127 cm Commission at original size

Landscape with Fishermen on a Lake

1790 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 47.0 x 61.9cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$24062 × 47 cm Commission at original size

Tahiti Revisited

1776 · National Maritime Museum, London · original 98 x 138 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18139 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$560138 × 98 cm Commission at original size

Captain James Cook, 1728-79

1775 · original 76.2 x 63.5cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18129 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29864 × 76 cm Commission at original size

The Marmalong Bridge

1783 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 68.6 x 91.4cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$23136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39291 × 69 cm Commission at original size

The Fort of Bidjegur

1784 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 61.3 x 101.6cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18141 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$340102 × 61 cm Commission at original size

'View in Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Bay, New Zealand'

1774 · original 66.5 x 74.5cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18133 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$30275 × 67 cm Commission at original size

Landscape

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 41.3 x 54.8cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22055 × 41 cm Commission at original size

The Resolution and Adventure, 4 Jan, 1773, taking in ice for water, lat. 61.S. watercolour

1773 · State Library of New South Wales, Sydney

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

'[Cascade Cove] Dusky Bay'

1775

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

The Inner Crater of Mauna Loa, Hawaii

1772 · original 100.5 x 127.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$537127 × 101 cm Commission at original size

A Waterfall in Tahiti

1775 · original 70.0 x 78.5cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$31879 × 70 cm Commission at original size

A View of Cape Stephens in Cook's Straits (New Zealand) with Waterspout, 1776

1776

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

'A View of Cape Stephens in Cook's Straits with Waterspout'

1776 · original 135.9 x 193.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20638 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$965193 × 136 cm Commission at original size

Otley Bridge on the River Wharfe

1783 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 60.8 x 111.6cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18144 × 23 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$357112 × 61 cm Commission at original size

Dusky Bay in New Zealand

1773 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 20.0 x 25.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

A View of Matavai Bay in the Island of Otaheite [Tahiti]

1776 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 91.4 x 137.2cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18139 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$530137 × 91 cm Commission at original size

A Cascade in the Tuauru Valley, Tahiti

1775

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

'A View of the Island of New Caledonia in the South'

1777

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18138 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

'A View of the Cape of Good Hope, Taken on the Spot, from on Board the 'Resolution', Capt Cooke'

1772 · original 96.5 x 124.4cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 48 artworks by William Hodges
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$514124 × 97 cm Commission at original size

The artist

William Hodges

1744 – 1797

Quick facts

Copyright statusPublic domain
Lifespan53 years
Also known asEsq. R. A. (made a Royal Academician in 1786) J. H, Guillaume Hodges, Esq. R. A. (made a Royal Academician in 1786) S. H, R. A. (made a Royal Academician in 1786) William H, William Hodges (1744-1797)
Art periodEarly Modern
Works on APS48
Top-ranked work[Waterfall in Dusky Bay with Maori canoe]
Top 3 works[Waterfall in Dusky Bay with Maori canoe], The Taj Mahal, The Ghauts at Benares; View of part of the City of Benares on the River Ganges, in the East Indies; The Ghats at Benares

Biography

The Explorer of Light and Landscape

William Hodges stands as a singular figure in the annals of English art, a painter whose brush served as both a scientific instrument and a romantic lens. Born in London, his early artistic development was shaped by the rigorous traditions of his mentors, studying under William Shipley and later refining his craft within the studio of Richard Wilson. Before he became a chronicler of distant horizons, Hodges found his footing in the ephemeral world of theatrical scenery, a period that undoubtedly prepared him for the grand, sweeping compositions that would later define his legacy. His career was fundamentally transformed when he joined Captain James Cook’s second voyage to the Pacific Ocean, an expedition that would provide him with the raw, breathtaking imagery that remains his greatest contribution to Western art history.

As the official artist of this monumental voyage, Hodges embarked on a journey through some of the most remote corners of the globe. His sketches and paintings captured the essence of places such as Table Bay, Tahiti, Easter Island, New Zealand, Dusky Sound, and the icy reaches of the Antarctic. These works were more than mere geographical records; they represented a profound, often visceral encounter with the unknown. In pieces like A View in Dusky Bay, New Zealand, one can sense the tension between his classical training and the immediate, overwhelming reality of first contact with the Māori people. His ability to translate the immediacy of these encounters into a visual language allowed European audiences to glimpse a world that was simultaneously exotic and deeply human.

A Mastery of Contrast and Colonial Vision

The evolution of Hodges’ technique marked a departure from the established landscape traditions of his era. While many of his contemporaries adhered to more subdued palettes, Hodges embraced a dramatic use of light and shadow. This approach, though occasionally criticized by contemporary critics who found his work too rough or unfinished, allowed him to imbue his landscapes with an epic scope reminiscent of the later Hudson River School. His large-scale oil paintings, often completed in London following his travels, utilized intense color contrasts to evoke the atmospheric power of the Pacific islands and the rugged coastlines he had traversed.

Beyond the Pacific, Hodges’ artistic journey led him to the heart of colonial India. Under the patronage of Governor-General Warren Hastings, he traveled through the country between 1780 and 1783, becoming one of the first professional British landscape painters to document the subcontinent. His time in Benares (Varanasi) resulted in profound works such as The Ghauts at Benares, where he applied Neoclassical compositional arrangements to the sacred riverbanks of the Ganges. In these works, a fascinating interplay emerges between meticulous observation and European idealism, as he sought to record the culture and architecture of India through a lens that blended scientific curiosity with a romanticized, picturesque sensibility.

The enduring significance of William Hodges lies in his role as a visual bridge between worlds. His oeuvre remains a vital archive of exploration, capturing the fleeting moments of discovery and the shifting landscapes of a changing world. Through his mastery of light and his courageous engagement with new territories, he expanded the boundaries of what landscape painting could achieve, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with the spirit of adventure and the beauty of the natural world.

Questions & Answers

Can I browse William Hodges's works by mood?

The Mood Room of William Hodges is a page that arranges the artist's artworks by mood.

Is there a chronological account of William Hodges?

A chronological account of William Hodges's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.

Can I explore William Hodges's works by keyword?

William Hodges's works can be explored by keyword on the artist's By Keywords page. Each keyword groups the related artworks.

By the WahooArt.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 2, 2026

Collector's quiz

Which famous explorer's second voyage to the Pacific Ocean did William Hodges accompany as an artist?
In which city did Hodges produce sketches of riverbank architecture and bathing ghats between 1780 and 1783?
What was William Hodges' profession during the early part of his career?
Which of these locations was NOT visited or documented by Hodges during his Pacific voyage?
Under whose patronage did Hodges travel to India?

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