Details
French School, 18th Century, after William Hodges, R.A.
The Chief at Sta. Christina
unstretched and unframed
11 1/8 x 8¾in. (28.2 x 22.2cm.)
After Hall's engraving (Cook (1777) I, pl. XXXVI; JS 2.105A) of a red chalk drawing attributed to Hodges (JS 2.105)
The Chief at Sta. Christina
unstretched and unframed
11 1/8 x 8¾in. (28.2 x 22.2cm.)
After Hall's engraving (Cook (1777) I, pl. XXXVI; JS 2.105A) of a red chalk drawing attributed to Hodges (JS 2.105)
Provenance
as Lot 50
The present picture follows the direction of Hall's engraving. The oil simplifies details of the decoration in the shells worn on the head. The colour of the peas decorating the necklace is, perhaps fortuitously, as described in Cook's text: 'The inhabitants of these islands, collectively, are without exception the finest race of people in this Sea. For fine shape and regular features, they perhaps surpass all other nations ... The men are punctured, or curiously tattowed, from head to foot. The figures are various, and seem to be directed more by fancy than custom ... They observe different modes in trimming the beard, which is, in general, long. Some part it, and tie it in two bunches under the chin ... Their principal head-dress, and what appears to be their chief ornament, is a sort of broad fillet, curiously made of the fibres of the husk of cocoa-nuts. In the front is fixed a mother of-pearl shell wrought round to the size of a teasaucer. Before that, another, smaller, of very fine tortoise-shell, perforated in curious figures. Also before, and in the centre of that, is another round piece of mother-of-pearl, about the size of half a crown; and before this is another piece of perforated tortoise-shell the size of a shilling. Besides this decoration in front, some have it also on each side, but in smaller pieces; and all have fixed to them the tail-feathers of cocks or tropic birds, which, when the fillet is tied on, stand upright; so that the whole together makes a very sightly ornament. They wear round the neck a kind of ruff or necklace, call it what you please, made of light wood, the out and upper side covered with small red peas, which are fixed on with gum ... I saw only the Chief, who came to visit us, completely dressed in this manner.' (Cook (1777) I, pp. 308-10)
Cook spent four days at Santa Christina (Tahuata in the Marquesas) from 8-12 April 1774 en route from Easter Island to Tahiti
The present picture follows the direction of Hall's engraving. The oil simplifies details of the decoration in the shells worn on the head. The colour of the peas decorating the necklace is, perhaps fortuitously, as described in Cook's text: 'The inhabitants of these islands, collectively, are without exception the finest race of people in this Sea. For fine shape and regular features, they perhaps surpass all other nations ... The men are punctured, or curiously tattowed, from head to foot. The figures are various, and seem to be directed more by fancy than custom ... They observe different modes in trimming the beard, which is, in general, long. Some part it, and tie it in two bunches under the chin ... Their principal head-dress, and what appears to be their chief ornament, is a sort of broad fillet, curiously made of the fibres of the husk of cocoa-nuts. In the front is fixed a mother of-pearl shell wrought round to the size of a teasaucer. Before that, another, smaller, of very fine tortoise-shell, perforated in curious figures. Also before, and in the centre of that, is another round piece of mother-of-pearl, about the size of half a crown; and before this is another piece of perforated tortoise-shell the size of a shilling. Besides this decoration in front, some have it also on each side, but in smaller pieces; and all have fixed to them the tail-feathers of cocks or tropic birds, which, when the fillet is tied on, stand upright; so that the whole together makes a very sightly ornament. They wear round the neck a kind of ruff or necklace, call it what you please, made of light wood, the out and upper side covered with small red peas, which are fixed on with gum ... I saw only the Chief, who came to visit us, completely dressed in this manner.' (Cook (1777) I, pp. 308-10)
Cook spent four days at Santa Christina (Tahuata in the Marquesas) from 8-12 April 1774 en route from Easter Island to Tahiti