Story: Ideas of Māori origins
This is a 1.8-metre section of a long piece of wallpaper. It featured views of Pacific history based on the accounts of European explorers from the 18th century. This section illustrates a wrestling match in Tongatapu, Tonga. The Tongan king is supposedly pictured in this scene under a banana tree (on the left) with one of his favourite wives. The Hellenic costumes and wrestling poses reflect the European preoccupation with ancient Greece, rather than accurately depicting Pacific peoples.
About this item
Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tamaki, Mackelvie Trust Collection
Woodblock and gouache on paper by Joseph Dufour & Co and Jean Charvet
Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.