3-016-181 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Poedua [Poetua], daughter of Oreo, chief of Ulaietea, one of the Society Isles, 1785. A portrait of a Pacific princess conceals an early clash of cultures. Poetua was the daughter of Oreo, a chief of Ra‘iatea. While British explorer James Cook was anchored there, on his third Pacific voyage, two of his crew deserted. To force the locals to help return them, Cook took Poetua hostage, along with her husband and brother. Poedua was the first portrait to present a Pacific woman to European audiences.