Powhatan

Object Details

Artist

Dirck Grijp, active early 1600s

Copy after

John Smith, active 1618

Sitter

Powhatan, c. 1550 - 1618

Exhibition Label

Born Tsenacommacah (present-day Virginia)

Powhatan (also named Wahunsenacawh) was the mamanatowick, or head chief, of a confederacy of Algonquian-speaking tribes when English colonists established Jamestown in the confederacy’s territory, Tsenacommacah. A skilled and strategic leader, Powhatan initially negotiated with John Smith (whose portrait hangs nearby) to exchange food for English goods. By 1609, Powhatan ceased trading with Jamestown and ordered attacks on anyone who left the settlement. Sporadic warfare between the Powhatan confederacy and English colonists over the next several years resulted in hundreds of casualties. However, Powhatan oversaw a period of peace that began in 1614—when his daughter Pocahontas married colonist John Rolfe—and lasted until his death.

Powhatan is depicted in the inset illustration in the upper left corner of this early map of Virginia, which is based on Smith’s observations of the region. An inscription claims to show Powhatan at the time of Smith’s captivity in 1607.

Nacido en Tsenacommacah (hoy Virginia)

Powhatan (también llamado Wahunsenacawh) era el mamanatowick, o jefe principal, de una confederación de tribus hablantes de algonquino cuando los colonos ingleses establecieron Jamestown en su territorio, Tsenacommacah. Hábil líder y estratega, Powhatan negoció inicialmente con John Smith (cuyo retrato se expone cerca) el intercambio de comida por bienes ingleses. Para 1609, Powhatan dejó de comerciar con Jamestown y ordenó atacar a todo el que saliera del asentamiento. Las luchas esporádicas entre la confederación y los colonos en los años siguientes causaron cientos de muertes. Sin embargo, Powhatan llegó a gobernar durante un período de paz desde 1614 (cuando su hija Pocahontas se casó con el colono John Rolfe) hasta su muerte.

Powhatan aparece en la ilustración insertada en la esquina superior izquierda de este mapa temprano de Virginia, basado en observaciones de Smith. La inscripción dice que así se veía hacia la época en que Smith fue su prisionero en 1607.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

1618

Object number

NPG.82.73

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Print

Medium

Colored engraving on paper

Dimensions

Sheet: 51.2 x 60.6 cm (20 3/16 x 23 7/8")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Nature & Environment\Fire

Illustration

Powhatan: Male

Powhatan: Politics and Government\Native American leader\Chief

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.82.73

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4bb13168d-4812-4161-a444-3fec85ed6ea7