Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9210
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    ‘The Head of a Chief of New Zealand...’

    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): 260mm
    width (print): 195mm
    Subject
    Description
    Head and shoulders portrait of an unnamed Māori, Maʊri, chief, turned slighty to the right [as viewed]. He is shown with three feathers and a comb attached to his hair, worn in a bun, and with traditional face tattooing, tatua.

    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, including New Zealand.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > New Zealand
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