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Many Americans are
surprised to learn that an actual lifetime engraving of
Pocahontas was made and survives. Even more surprising
is the fact that she is depicted in the fine dress of
17th century England, wearing a regal dress and fanciful
hat. Several years after meeting explorer Captain
John Smith, Pocahontas was captured by the British in
1613 during a time of increasing hostilities between the
British and the Indians. During her captivity, she
converted to Christianity and took on the name Rebecca.
She married tobacco planter John Rolfe in 1614, bore a
son named Thomas Rolfe in 1615, and returned to London,
England with her husband and child in 1616. While in
England, her intriguing background and made her quite
famous, and in 1616, her likeness was engraved and
published in London by engraver Simon Van de Passe.
At the time, Pocahontas was just 21 years old.
Sadly, she died in March, 1617 of unknown causes while
preparing to return to Jamestown, and is buried in the
town of Gravesend, England.
The original 1616
engraving of Pocahontas is the earliest engraving of an
American in the collection of the Smithsonian National
Portrait Gallery. London engraver and publisher
William Richardson created his own engraving of
Pocahontas after the 1616 engraving by Van de Passe, and
published it on August 10, 1793. It is
Richardson's engraving that is shown here, and is part
of the Rare Flags collection. Richardson also
engraved Captain John Smith, also after an earlier 17th
century engraving by Van de Passe (see
IAS-00410).
Richardson softened the some of the facial features of
Pocahontas, who looked quite austere in the original
1616 engraving, but these engravings of Pocahontas,
based on a lifetime sitting, are the only ones to
accurately depict the likeness of the famous Indian
princess.
"Matoaks als Rebecka
daughter to the might Prince
Powhatan Emperour of Attanough komouck als virginia
converted and baptized in the Christian faith, and
wife to the worsh Mr. Joh Rolff."
1
Face
to Face: From the Collection: Pocahontas, Smithsonian
National Portrait Gallery
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