Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
Antarctica is a place that nobody wants. But then, some of them don't want anyone else to have it either. As a consequence, several countries with scientific and other interests have signed treaties stating that no one of them owns the region/continent, and that research may be carried out by anyone. However, in one of their wisest moves, there have been two conventions signed since 1988, to protect Antarctica from mineral exploration, and preserve its natural image.
Recently, restorers working on a 230-year old landscape by British artist Thomas Hodges, discovered that the canvas appeared thicker in some places than others. Using x-ray machines, they discovered that underneath the lush tropical view of New Zealand, was a region further south and much colder.
Beneath the New Zealand landscape, painted during Captain Cook's 1772 voyage to discover the mythical southern continent, was the stark scene of two icebergs. Up until this peeling back of paint layers, it was thought the only early images of the Antarctic were the rough sketches done by sailors and explorers.
Not so. Hodges had accompanied Cook on his epic voyage, one would assume to record the triumphant discovery of a non-existent land. Instead, he painted scenes of the lands and people that were already known. So why did he cover up the iceberg painting, and why are there no more of them?
Theories suggest that Hodges either ran out of supplies, or lost some to damage during the voyage, and when presented with the impressive scenery of New Zealand, opted to capture that, rather than hold onto the rather dull scene of ice floating in the water. Whether he painted any other Antarctic scenes is unknown. But perhaps they lay waiting under other of his pictures.
Antarctica is a place that nobody wants. But then, some of them don't want anyone else to have it either. As a consequence, several countries with scientific and other interests have signed treaties stating that no one of them owns the region/continent, and that research may be carried out by anyone. However, in one of their wisest moves, there have been two conventions signed since 1988, to protect Antarctica from mineral exploration, and preserve its natural image.
Recently, restorers working on a 230-year old landscape by British artist Thomas Hodges, discovered that the canvas appeared thicker in some places than others. Using x-ray machines, they discovered that underneath the lush tropical view of New Zealand, was a region further south and much colder.
Beneath the New Zealand landscape, painted during Captain Cook's 1772 voyage to discover the mythical southern continent, was the stark scene of two icebergs. Up until this peeling back of paint layers, it was thought the only early images of the Antarctic were the rough sketches done by sailors and explorers.
Not so. Hodges had accompanied Cook on his epic voyage, one would assume to record the triumphant discovery of a non-existent land. Instead, he painted scenes of the lands and people that were already known. So why did he cover up the iceberg painting, and why are there no more of them?
Theories suggest that Hodges either ran out of supplies, or lost some to damage during the voyage, and when presented with the impressive scenery of New Zealand, opted to capture that, rather than hold onto the rather dull scene of ice floating in the water. Whether he painted any other Antarctic scenes is unknown. But perhaps they lay waiting under other of his pictures.
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