The "Sedgeford Hall Portrait" (location: King's Lynn Town Hall, Norfolk, UK), is an oil on canvas portrait in the American School[1] by an unknown artist circa 1837. It depicts Pe-o-ka, wife of the Seminole chief, Osceola, and their son. It was once mistakenly believed by many to be a portrait painted from life of Pocahontas and her son, Thomas Rolfe.[2]
The "Sedgeford Hall Portrait," oil on canvas by unknown artist circa 1837; courtesy of Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, UK
Provenance and identificationedit
Eustace Neville Rolfe of Heacham in Norfolk, a possible[3] distant relative of Thomas, acquired the painting, believing it to be of Pocahontas and Thomas.[4] At some point it was hung in a Rolfe family estate building called Sedgeford Hall in Sedgeford (Norfolk, England), from whence it acquired its name. Art experts later disputed the painting's origin, saying it could not have been painted during the lifetime of Pocahontas on the basis of style and the sitters' dress.[5] Additionally, the child in the portrait appears to be several years older than Thomas Rolfe would have been when his mother was still alive. Thomas Rolfe was born in January 1615, making him two years, two months old at the time of Pocahontas's death.[6]
In 2010, researcher Bill Ryan, while reviewing magazine archives on the Seminole Indians, found a black-and-white drawn version of the painting in the 1848 edition of Illustrated London News identifying the portrait as "the wife and child of Osceola, the last of the Seminole Indian chiefs."[7]Osceola himself was of mixed race (Creek Indian and English), which explains the European features of the child. The portrait is now generally accepted as being his wife and son, though some questions still remain.[8][9] Many printed and Internet sources, however, still refer to this painting as a portrait of Pocahontas and Thomas Rolfe.
"The Wife and Child of Osceola" from Holden's Dollar Magazine, volume 6, no. 4 (October 1850): 591-592.
An article from Holden's Dollar Magazine in 1850 labels the engraving "The Wife and Child of Osceola" and bemoans the loss of the continent's native peoples.[10]
A plaque,[11] presumably composed by the Rolfe family, is attached to the frame stating:
PRINCESS POCAHONTAS Dau. of PRINCE POWHATTAN & 2nd WIFE of JOHN ROLFE of HEACHAM (1585-1630) b. 1595 m.1614 d. AT GRAVESEND 1617
The plaque contains some questionable information besides the likely misidentification of the subjects. Pocahontas was said to be a "princess" by members of the Virginia Company who marketed her as such to investors and to the royal family during her trip to England in 1616-1617.[12] While she was the daughter of paramount chief, Powhatan, she was not in a matrilineal line to succeed him, and the Powhatan Indians are not known to have given her any special title corresponding to the English notion of princess, though she was likely treated with respect as the daughter of Powhatan.[13] Further, John Rolfe is often said to be John Rolfe of Heacham, but this has been questioned.[14] Finally, the stated birth year of 1595 is an estimate. Anthropologist and Powhatan Indian researcher Helen Rountree estimates her birth year to have been 1596 based on Pocahontas's statement of how old she was at the time of the Simon van de Passe engraving.[15]
A sign posted under the painting at King's Lynn Town Hall gives some brief biographical details of the life of Pocahontas as well as this paragraph explaining the mis-identification of the painting's subjects:
"The mother and child portrayed are probably Pe-o-ka, the wife of Osceola, the War Chief of the Seminoles of Florida, and their child in 1837. It was acquired by Eustace Neville Rolfe of Heacham Hall who believed it represented Pocahontas and her son."[16]
Additional details
"[The Sedgeford Hall Portrait] was purchased by Eustace Neville Rolfe (1845–1908) of Heacham Hall from a Mrs Charlton who stated that ‘her husband had bought it in America years ago'."[17]
"A founder member of the King’s Lynn Town Guides, Mrs Jill Price, and her husband, encouraged the Rolfe family to hang the painting in the [King's Lynn] Town Hall. It was presented and hung in 1990."[18]
Referencesedit
^Pitcher, David. Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
^Pitcher, David. Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
^Pitcher, David. Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
External linksedit
“Palm Coast author solves 160-year‘Pocahontas' mystery” PalmCoastObserver.com, March 31, 2011
"Mystery of the King's Lynn 'Pocahontas' Painting is Solved" from Friends of King's Lynn Museum Newsletter Spring 2011
"Is the Sedgeford Hall Portrait Evidence of a Crime?" from Tsurumi Review, No. 51, September 2021
April 26, 2024
sedgeford, hall, portrait, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sedgeford Hall Portrait news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Sedgeford Hall Portrait location King s Lynn Town Hall Norfolk UK is an oil on canvas portrait in the American School 1 by an unknown artist circa 1837 It depicts Pe o ka wife of the Seminole chief Osceola and their son It was once mistakenly believed by many to be a portrait painted from life of Pocahontas and her son Thomas Rolfe 2 The Sedgeford Hall Portrait oil on canvas by unknown artist circa 1837 courtesy of Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk UKProvenance and identification editEustace Neville Rolfe of Heacham in Norfolk a possible 3 distant relative of Thomas acquired the painting believing it to be of Pocahontas and Thomas 4 At some point it was hung in a Rolfe family estate building called Sedgeford Hall in Sedgeford Norfolk England from whence it acquired its name Art experts later disputed the painting s origin saying it could not have been painted during the lifetime of Pocahontas on the basis of style and the sitters dress 5 Additionally the child in the portrait appears to be several years older than Thomas Rolfe would have been when his mother was still alive Thomas Rolfe was born in January 1615 making him two years two months old at the time of Pocahontas s death 6 In 2010 researcher Bill Ryan while reviewing magazine archives on the Seminole Indians found a black and white drawn version of the painting in the 1848 edition of Illustrated London News identifying the portrait as the wife and child of Osceola the last of the Seminole Indian chiefs 7 Osceola himself was of mixed race Creek Indian and English which explains the European features of the child The portrait is now generally accepted as being his wife and son though some questions still remain 8 9 Many printed and Internet sources however still refer to this painting as a portrait of Pocahontas and Thomas Rolfe nbsp The Wife and Child of Osceola from Holden s Dollar Magazine volume 6 no 4 October 1850 591 592 An article from Holden s Dollar Magazine in 1850 labels the engraving The Wife and Child of Osceola and bemoans the loss of the continent s native peoples 10 A plaque 11 presumably composed by the Rolfe family is attached to the frame stating PRINCESS POCAHONTAS Dau of PRINCE POWHATTAN amp 2nd WIFE of JOHN ROLFE of HEACHAM 1585 1630 b 1595 m 1614 d AT GRAVESEND 1617 The plaque contains some questionable information besides the likely misidentification of the subjects Pocahontas was said to be a princess by members of the Virginia Company who marketed her as such to investors and to the royal family during her trip to England in 1616 1617 12 While she was the daughter of paramount chief Powhatan she was not in a matrilineal line to succeed him and the Powhatan Indians are not known to have given her any special title corresponding to the English notion of princess though she was likely treated with respect as the daughter of Powhatan 13 Further John Rolfe is often said to be John Rolfe of Heacham but this has been questioned 14 Finally the stated birth year of 1595 is an estimate Anthropologist and Powhatan Indian researcher Helen Rountree estimates her birth year to have been 1596 based on Pocahontas s statement of how old she was at the time of the Simon van de Passe engraving 15 A sign posted under the painting at King s Lynn Town Hall gives some brief biographical details of the life of Pocahontas as well as this paragraph explaining the mis identification of the painting s subjects The mother and child portrayed are probably Pe o ka the wife of Osceola the War Chief of the Seminoles of Florida and their child in 1837 It was acquired by Eustace Neville Rolfe of Heacham Hall who believed it represented Pocahontas and her son 16 Additional details The Sedgeford Hall Portrait was purchased by Eustace Neville Rolfe 1845 1908 of Heacham Hall from a Mrs Charlton who stated that her husband had bought it in America years ago 17 A founder member of the King s Lynn Town Guides Mrs Jill Price and her husband encouraged the Rolfe family to hang the painting in the King s Lynn Town Hall It was presented and hung in 1990 18 References edit Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk PalmCoastObserver com March 31 2011 https www palmcoastobserver com article palm coast author solves 160 year pocahontas mystery The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol 21 No 2 Apr 1913 pp 208 211 Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk Friends of King s Lynn Museum Newsletter Spring 2011 http www oldkingsroad com king s 20lynn King s 20Lynn 202011 pdf Leonard Carl 2013 01 30 The only child of Pocahontas was born today in 1615 Now WE know em Retrieved 2019 09 20 PalmCoastObserver com March 31 2011 https www palmcoastobserver com article palm coast author solves 160 year pocahontas mystery Friends of King s Lynn Museum Newsletter Spring 2011 http www oldkingsroad com king s 20lynn King s 20Lynn 202011 pdf Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk The Wife and Child of Osceola Holden s Dollar Magazine 6 4 591 592 October 1850 Retrieved 2016 10 07 Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk Rountree H C 2005 Pocahontas Powhatan Opechancanough Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown University of Virginia Press p 176 178 Rountree H C 2005 Pocahontas Powhatan Opechancanough Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown University of Virginia Press p 24 p 143 The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol 21 No 2 Apr 1913 pp 208 211 Rountree H C 2005 Pocahontas Powhatan Opechancanough Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown University of Virginia Press p 36 King s Lynn Civic Society King s Lynn Town Hall Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West Norfolk Pitcher David Borough Council of King s Lynn and West NorfolkExternal links edit Palm Coast author solves 160 year Pocahontas mystery PalmCoastObserver com March 31 2011 Mystery of the King s Lynn Pocahontas Painting is Solved from Friends of King s Lynn Museum Newsletter Spring 2011 Is the Sedgeford Hall Portrait Evidence of a Crime from Tsurumi Review No 51 September 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sedgeford Hall Portrait amp oldid 1052805890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
