John Webber’s Poedua [Poetua], daughter of Oreo, chief of Ulaietea, one of the Society Isles has just come into Te Papa’s collection and this is a rare opportunity to see such a magnificent painting before it undergoes extensive conservation treatment. This significant work was the first great portrait of an indigenous woman of the South Pacific presented to a European audience.
Only 24 years old at the time, Webber (1751–1793) impressed botanist Daniel Solander who then recommended him for the position of official artist on Captain James Cook’s third, ill-fated, voyage of exploration in the Pacific. Cook commanded HMS Resolution and Captain Charles Clerke commanded HMS Discovery and they anchored at Raiatea, Tahiti on 3 November 1777. Cook was visited on board Resolution by the island’s chief, Oreo, whose two daughters, Poetua and Tainamai, accompanied him bearing gifts of welcome and respect.
Raiatea was to be Cook’s last planned stop before sailing into the North Pacific and the sailors became restless once this plan was made known. Some of the crew began to abandon ship and, on 24 November, two men deserted from Discovery. To ensure their return, Cook enticed on board Oreo's son and daughter, Ta-eura and Poetua, and the latter's husband, Moetua, and held them captive until this was accomplished. It was under these circumstances that Poetua, pregnant at the time, posed for Webber in a cabin on board Discovery. Cook’s plan was successful, the men returned, and the captives were released to their village.
On his return to England, Webber painted three versions of the portrait from that original work (presumed lost). One version was presented to the Admiralty and is now in the collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich; another is held by the National Library of Australia; and the present picture, the only one of the three dated (1785). This has descended from the collection of Princess Ariimanihinihi Takau Pomare (1887–1976), youngest daughter of Queen Marautaaroa I (1860–1934), the last Queen of Tahiti.Two other paintings by Webber that resulted from the voyage are also on display, Portrait of Captain James Cook, circa 1780 and Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound, circa 1788.
Read more stories about Poetua in this blog post about the blessing ceremony that took place in November 2010