Les Indiens d'Amérique

Portrait de Etow Oh Koam, Roi de la Nation de la Rivière, un des quatre rois des Mohawks, en 1750.

Le chef indien Etow Oh Koam est appelé roi car il est le frère et l'égal du roi d'Angleterre son ami et allié. Il est représenté ici seul entouré des signes de son pouvoir. Son sceptre est un ancien tomahawk de pierre, il porte une chemise et un manteau d'apparat à la mode des princes européens, à sa ceinture pend un lourd sabre courbe dans un magnifique fourreau décoré, insigne de son grade de général. La tortue à ses pieds est probablement un animal héraldique, le totem de son clan.

Sa posture virile et résolue, ses tatouages traditionnels, le décor de grands arbres de son royaume sauvage montrent bien qu'il est un allié de grande valeur que cette image veut flatter.

Portrait of Etow Oh Koam, King of the River Nation, one of the Four Mohawk Kings, 1750.

The native leader is awarded the European title of king, he is represented here standing in a formal pose similar to the official portraits of European 17th century monarchs in full regalia. Etow Oh Koam is wearing embroidered animal hide mocassins, a wide European style cotton shirt with cuffs but no lace necktie, a ceremonial cloak made of imported fabric (silk or fine wool).His kingly sceptre, symbol of his authority is a precolumbian stone tomahawk, an iron one lays on the ground next to his feet as a trophy taken from a vanquished enemy. A curved scimitar of European design with scabbard hangs from his decorated belt and indicates his status as ally to the British. The turtle is probably the heraldic totem of his clan.

The resolute and lordly attitude, the tattoo marks on his face and the tall trees surrounding him, symbolize the native power that makes him a worthy friend and equal brother of the King of Great Britain and Ireland. The Iroquois were a confederacy of several peoples with regulated relationships before Europeans met with them. This political organisation was an inspiration for the later designed federal Constitution of the USA.