Collection search - The Chief at St. Christina

Record information – Brief
1
The Chief at St. Christina

Hierarchical level:

Item

Date:

16 July, 1776

Type of material:

Art

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

2908000

Context of this record:

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Captain Cook's voyages collection

The Chief at St. Christina
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Record information – Details
Date(s):

16 July, 1776

Place of creation:

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent:

1 print / estampe : etching and engraving (proof) on laid paper
Support 59.400 x 44.700 cm
Platemark 31.600 x 25.200 cm

Scope and content:

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The Journal of Cook's Voyages was published in 1777, in two volumes, and includes engravings done by many artists after drawings executed by Hodges on this second journey. The official first edition was published February 1, 1777 by William Strahan in New Street, Shoe Lane and Thomas Cadell in the Strand, London, England. This image appears in Volume One, facing page 310., 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 tea saucer. Before that, another, smaller, of very fine tortoise-shell, perforated into curious figures. Also before, and in the center of that, is antoher round piece of mother-of-pearl, about the size of half a crown; and before this 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...They wear round the neck a kind of ruff or necklace...made of light wood, the out and upper side covered with small red peas, which are fixedon with gum, and tied round the legs and arms...I saw only the chief...completely dressed in this manner (p.309-310)., William Hodges was chosen by the British Admiralty to accompany Captain James Cook on his Second Voyage (1772-1775) as the official artist of this expedition.
Additional name(s):

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Artist: Hodges, William, 1744-1797

Engraver: Hall, John, 1739-1797
Additional information:

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General note:

album: Volume One

Signatures and inscriptions note:

Inscription: in the plate, l.l.: Drawn from Nature by W.Hodges.; l.r.: Engrav'd by J.Hall; b.: THE CHIEF AT ST.A CHRISTINA./ London, Publish'd as the Act directs July 16.1776.; in pencil, recto, u.r.: "XXXVI" (36)

Subject heading:

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Portraits

Source:

Private

Other accession no.:

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00060
1991-265 X DAP
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Conditions of access:

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Graphic (art)

[Consultation90 Open]
Physical access through an art archivist. No restriction on use for reproduction or publication

Item no. assigned by LAC [1991-265 X] 60

[Consultation 90 Open]

Terms of use:

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Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1991-265-60
Copyright: Expired

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