This fascinating and historically important series of watercolors by an officer of the Royal Navy gives us a glimpse of Tahiti as it looked in its last days of self-rule in the early 19th century.
S.R. Lock, likely a British Naval Officer either stationed in or visiting Tahiti with his ship, followed a great tradition of naval illustration in watercolor, documenting his voyages in a time before photography. Gentleman Inchesofficers would sketch and paint to illustrate personal journals, as is likely with Lock, or a Inchesship's officers from ensigns to masters did illustrations for logbooks. Inches Among these works Inchespaintings of Tahiti and South Seas subjects are extremely rare as are any such works with a high level of artistic skill and in good condition, well presented and with bright colors and details remaining."The collection also shows a great variety of subject matter from government and military buildings, to the merchant ship with natives spearfishing nearby, to portraits, and everyday scenes of life for native and non-native alike. Inches
Each of the pieces are framed in fine quality birds eye maple frames.
From a historical perspective, the time in which Lock was living in Tahiti was a time of turmoil and transition. 1847 was the end of the Tahitian War of Independence- a conflict between France and Tahiti in which France was the victor. Their Queen, Pomare, had been allowed to return from exile, but with her powers limited and the island firmly under French control.
The British, though they had played a role in stirring up the hostilities, were allowed to remain on the island and to call at its ports. Lock depicts several interesting scenes of life as well as important events in the island that year.
Queen Pomare's home is depicted in one of the watercolors as is her first husband- Tapoa, also King of Bora Bora. Though the two had separated in 1828, and Pomare had remarried, Tapoa was living on Tahiti and had adopted one of the Queen's daughters. He was something like a friend or a member of her court, allowing relatives to rule his own island in his absence. A contemporary account by Royal Naval Captain Henry B. Martin describes Tapoa as quite "fat and jolly" as well as one of the "most lenient and respectable among chiefs in these islands."
Captain Martin's journal, in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum and published under the title, "The Polynesian Journal of Captain Henry Byam Martin, R.N.", also describes the arrival of the ship HARFLY in June of 1847, confirmed by Lock's painting here of the ship entering the harbor on June 26th.
HARFLY had left Hobarton, Australia in April for Cape Horn and eventually London but by mid-May had sprung a leak which was bad enough to require rerouting for repairs. By June the ship hobbled into Tahiti barely making it after 40 days of hard pumping to keep her afloat. Luckily the ship had 50 soldiers of the 96th Regiment aboard who kept the pumps working. Captain Martin's account of that ship and its repair is interesting and somewhat amusing- he didn't think much of that ship's captain and her owner.
Lock also depicts an important group of buildings in Papeete, in the work inscribed as Hotel du Government. The painting shows buildings with many soldiers and locals- the building to the left is likely the American Consulate or trade house, as it is flying what appears to be an American flag. The central building flying the Tricolor is the French Government house. Captain Martin's journal also describes this location in his account of the moment when Queen Pomare was compelled to sign the Treaty of French Protectorate.
One of our favorites is the dining scene- inside an open tent with furniture and lanterns, gentlemen in their uniforms or suits sit at table with a view of palm trees in the distance. A small monkey sits between wood slats outside while a faithful dog rests nearby.
All of the watercolors are signed 'S R Lock', and are inscribed and dated. These signatures and inscriptions were copied and affixed to the back of each framed image or images. Also attached are envelopes with research done by a previous owner. In the order they are depicted these read: 1. (Diptych) Top: Ship HARFLY or Going into the Harbour of Tahiti, June 26th, 1847, S.R. Lock2. Bottom: Interior of Temporary Tent at Government Point, Tahiti, Sept. 1847, S.R. LockThe two above framed as diptych. Each image size: 5 3/4 x 9 inches, Framed: 19 3/4 x 16 inches.
3. (Diptych) Top: View of Papeete, Tahiti, Sketched July 1847, S.R. Lock4. Bottom: Papeete, Tahiti, Hotel du Government and Queen Pomare's House, August 1847, S.R. LockThe two above framed as diptych. Each image size: 5 3/4 x 9 inches, Framed: 19 3/4 x 16 inches.
5. Diptych, Top: Sketch of Tapoa, King of Bola Bola (Bora Bora), Sketched by SR Lock, August 18476. Bottom: Native of Tahiti Sketched by SR Lock, September 1847The two above framed as diptych. Tapoa Portrait: 5 1/8 x 61/2 inches, Framed: 22 x 12 1/2 inches.
7. The Island of Eimao or Moorea by Sunset, Sketched by SR Lock, July 1847. Small Island in foreground is called Nicholas Island.Size: 5 3/4 x 9 inches, Framed: 12 5/8 x 15 5/8 inches.
Further History of Tahiti and the history behind these scenes Inches
The first European is thought to have visited Tahiti as late as 1767 when the British HMS DOLPHIN first came to the island while circumnavigating the globe. French, Spanish and Portuguese contingents would follow along with other British including several visits in this period by Captain James Cook and one by Charles Darwin aboard the BEAGLE. Early attempts to establish the island as a colony or to establish a mission there were unsuccessful though the Europeans kept coming. Inches
It was in 1788, with the landing of the ship HMS BOUNTY that the course of the island's history would start to turn. InchesOn the recommendation of one of Captain Cook's botanists, BOUNTY and her crew were sent to Tahiti to collect breadfruit trees for transplant to British colonies in the Caribbean. Inches
BOUNTY spent five months in Tahiti preparing the seedlings for transport, as we know enough time for her crew to become enamored of life on the island and very much less enamored of life under infamous Captain William Bligh. Three weeks after leaving Tahiti BOUNTY's crew mutinied, setting Bligh and his loyal officers adrift and returning in the ship to settle in Tahiti. Inches
Some of BOUNTY's mutineers got involved in local tribal conflicts and became mercenaries or sold arms to one chieftain's family in particular who leveraged this support to increase their influence over much of the island. This chief would declare himself king by 1790, naming himself Pomare I, establishing what is known today as the Pomare Dynasty whose rulers and descendants would spread Tahitian influence over most of what we now call French Polynesia. "
By 1818 the Pomare Dynasty had really become kings, having control over the entire island and establishing their capital at Papeete. By this time Europeans were common visitors, with whale ships and merchant ships making regular stops along with the continued British and French naval presence. InchesBritish missionaries had convinced then King Pomare II to convert his people to Protestantism, completely transforming their culture and increasingly influencing its politics. Inches
When Pomare II died, his son and successor was just a baby. He would be crowned and regents would rule in his stead, but it was short lived and he too died in 1827 giving way to Queen Pomare IV. Inches
By the mid-1830's Pomare was heavily under the influence of missionary and acting British Consul, George Pritchard. This would prove disastrous for her rule, as he used his influence to push back against the French presence and their Catholic missionaries. This put Pomare not only between centuries of French and British conflict but also between a religious and almost personal conflict between Pritchard and the French naval Admiral Du Petit-Thouars. In 1842, she was forced to allow Tahiti to become a French Protectorate, but still was in charge of internal affairs. By 1843 Pritchard encouraged Pomare to rebel by flying a Tahitian flag rather than that of the Protectorate. As a result the Admiral claimed Tahiti for France, and sent Pomare into exile. The Tahitian War of Independence followed, with France victorious by 1847. Inches
Pomare would be allowed to return to Tahiti but with diminished powers. Pritchard was thrown in prison and eventually sent back to England. Protestant missionaries were allowed to remain until the 1860's but Tahiti has for all intents and purposes been part of French Polynesia ever since. Inches
