Portrait of Etow oh Koam , King of the River Nation.

Portrait of Etow oh Koam , King of the River Nation.

Portrait of Etow oh Koam , King of the River Nation.

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Introduction

This is a portrait of Etow Oh Koam, called the King of the River Nation, baptised Nicholas. It is one of the four portraits by John Verelst done in 1710, known as the Four Indian Kings. The four sachems, Tee Yee Neen Ho Ga Row, Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row, Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow, and Etow Oh Koam, traveled to London in 1710 as ambassadors of the Five Nations to the Queen of England. It is from the John Petre collection.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

Title of the painting.

Date Made or Date Range: 1710
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

LAC record

Materials

Oil; canvas

Techniques or Format

This is an oil painting on canvas.

Motifs and Patterns

This is a full length portrait of Etow oh Koam set in a forest landscape. Just behind him is a turtle, possibly signifying his clan, while in the background two figures are fighting, one holding a club. Etow oh Koam holds a war club in his right hand, with a sword hanging from his embroidered or woven belt. He wears large ear ornaments,and other items of his dress, his moccasins, blanket/cloak, shirt, are represented in detail.

Dimensions: 0 × 64.3 × 91.5 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

LAC record

Current Location: Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Mikan no. 2836996
Link to Institution's Collections Database: collectionscanada.gc.ca
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1977
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: John Petre family
Exhibition History

Exhibition title: The Four Indian Kings. Curators: Martha E. Cooke, National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; 1977.10.16 - 1977.11.20.

Exhibition title: People of the Great Peace. Curators: Albany Institute of Art and History, Albany, New York; 1981.10.30 - 1982.04.23.

Exhibition title: The Convenant Chain- Indian Ceremonial and Trade Silver and the Four Indian Kings. Curators: McCord Museum, Montreal, Quebec; 1982.10.25 - 1983.03.20.

Exhibition title: The Painted Past. Curators: Staff of the National Archives, National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; 1984.10.02 - 1984.10.31. Further venue: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Colombia;1987.04.10 - 1987.06.07.

Further venue: McCord Museum, Montreal, Quebec; 1987.07.08 - 1988.01.03.

Further venue: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia; 1989.06.01 - 1989.07.11.

Publication History

John G. Garratt. The four Indian kings = Les quatres rois indiens (Public Archives of Canada, 1982).

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

LAC record

GKS Reference Number: 765
Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

Source of Information about Places

Etow oh Koam was of the Hodenosaunee, of the Great Lakes region.

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