Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9206
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    ‘Heads of divers Natives of the Islands of Otaheite, Huaheine, & Oheiteroah’

    Date
    1773
    Creator
    Thomas Chambers (1724 - 1789, British) , Engraver
    After
    Sydney Parkinson (1740 - 1771, British) , Draftsman
    Object type
    Library reference
    58306
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 210mm
    width (print): 255mm
    Subject
    Description
    Group portrait of six unnamed Tahitian, Mā'ohi, people, referred to here as from 'Otaheite' and 'Huaheine', Tahiti and Huahine. Some are shown wearing floral headresses of Gardenia taitensis, or tiare, and jewellery, while one [top right as viewed] wears a headress, possibly made of reed. All are shown in part-profile.

    Illustration from A journal of a voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's ship, The Endeavour, by Sydney Parkinson (London, 1773), which was published posthumously.

    Sydney Parkinson (c.1745-1771) Scottish natural history artist and Joseph Banks's (1743–1820) illustrator on board HMS Endeavour's voyage to the Pacific in 1768, under Lieutenant James Cook (1728-1779).

    Endeavour's mission was to observe the Transit of Venus, which they did from Tahiti on 3rd June 1769, and explore, claim resources and trade in the 'unknown southern land', Terra Australis Incognita.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Tahiti
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