Lot Essay
THE VERY RARE FIRST STATE.
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FIRST NATIONS AND NATIVE AMERICANS Lots 27-34
The Indian Kings series
Four Iroquois sachems travelled to England in 1710 with the mayor of Albany, Colonel Pieter Schulyler, to request help from their allies in their territorial battles against the French. The Indian leaders created a sensation at court and Queen Anne commissioned their portraits from John Verelst (the four portraits now in the Library and Archives Canada), the images subsequently widely disseminated in John Simon’s prints.
“Hoping to strengthen its friendship with the Iroquois tribes of the Six Nations Confederacy and to assure its continued support in Queen Anne's War, the British government invited four Iroquois chiefs (Etow Oh Koam, Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow, Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row, and Tee Yee Neen Ho Ga Row) to visit England in 1710. In London, the chiefs reiterated their need for military aid in Canada and told the Queen that they would welcome the presence of Christian missionaries. Called by London journals "men of good Presence", the chiefs enjoyed the lavish gifts and entertainment of London society. They became the subject of ballads, broadsheets, pamphlets, and even a special epilogue to Macbeth. … From the time of these chieftains' historic visit, European artists (formerly predisposed to portray America's so-called noble savage as a classical nude figure) depicted Indians to look like Indians. The "Four Kings" were painted three times during their stay in London. John Verelst painted a series of full-length portraits for Queen Anne, and reproductions in mezzotint, engraved by John Simon, were offered for sale. … The Iroquois remained loyal to England throughout the French and Indian War. After the American Revolution, a number of them migrated to Ontario.” (Four Indian Kings, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 2008)
The acquisition in 1977 by the Public Archives of the original four pictures by Verelst from the Royal Collection, was assisted and supported by Peter Winkworth, the Special Adviser to the Public Archives in London. Winkworth's own editions of the mezzotints (lots 27-9) were included in the inaugural exhibition devoted to the portraits in Ottawa in 1977. Public Archives Canada subsequently published The Four Indian Kings (Ottawa, 1985), with a catalogue of works pertaining to the four kings by John G. Garratt, and an iconographical study by Bruce Robertson (‘In addition to the four paintings, some thirty-one other portraits survive in the form of engravings or miniatures, along with three published accounts of their visits, fourteen broadsides, twelve chapbooks, seven versions of a speech by the four kings and five other publications.’, op. cit., p.vii.)
After John Verelst
Indian Kings: “Etow Oh Koam, King of the River Nation”; and “Tee Yee Ho Ga Row Emperour of the Six Nations” , by J. Simon
Details
After John Verelst
Indian Kings: “Etow Oh Koam, King of the River Nation”; and “Tee Yee Ho Ga Row Emperour of the Six Nations” , by J. Simon
two from the set of four mezzotints, both first state, printed, published and ‘Sold at ye Rainbow and Dove ye Corner of Ivey Bridge in ye Strand’, London, [1710]
16 ½ x 10 3/8in. (41.9 x 26.2cm.)
(2)
Indian Kings: “Etow Oh Koam, King of the River Nation”; and “Tee Yee Ho Ga Row Emperour of the Six Nations” , by J. Simon
two from the set of four mezzotints, both first state, printed, published and ‘Sold at ye Rainbow and Dove ye Corner of Ivey Bridge in ye Strand’, London, [1710]
16 ½ x 10 3/8in. (41.9 x 26.2cm.)
(2)
Literature
J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits…, London, 1883, III, p.1095, no.84 (Indian Kings).
W.M.E. Cooke, The Four Indian Kings (Public Archives of Canada exhibition catalogue), Ottawa, 1977, p.6, nos 9-10.
J.G. Garratt and B. Robertson, The Four Indian Kings, Ottawa, 1985, E2(a) and (c). (‘the portraits first advertised in The Tatler (London), no.250, 14 Nov. 1710’).
W.M.E. Cooke, The Four Indian Kings (Public Archives of Canada exhibition catalogue), Ottawa, 1977, p.6, nos 9-10.
J.G. Garratt and B. Robertson, The Four Indian Kings, Ottawa, 1985, E2(a) and (c). (‘the portraits first advertised in The Tatler (London), no.250, 14 Nov. 1710’).
Exhibited
Ottawa, Public Archives of Canada, The Four Indian Kings, Oct.-Nov. 1977, nos 9-10.
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