Washington Place

Hawaiʻi

Paintings

See the historical paintings that live within Washington Place

The Queen’s Portrait

Queen's Portrait

This portrait is a 1990 reproduction of the 1891 W.F. Cogswell portrait of the Queen located at ʻIolani Palace. Clements Robertson was commissioned to recreate this larger-than-life portrait which is an acrylic on canvas and is mounted in the Queen’s Dining Room. In the portrait, the Queen is wearing her famous black gown worn at the 50th anniversary of England’s Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. Also depicted, in her hair, is a butterfly broach made of diamonds, rubies and gold that she purchased while in England for the jubilee.[1]

Material:  Acrylic on Canvas
Artist:  Clements Robertson
Height:  93 in.          Width: 58 in.
Location:  Queen’s Dining Room

H.M.S. Blonde Escaping Icebergs

A Representation of H.M.S. Blonde Escaping Icebergs

This 1826 oil on canvas painting is in a gilt-covered gesso filled frame. Ornate with baroque acanthus leaves and flowers, the frame is reminiscent of the renaissance revival style.

The painting depicts the H.M.S. Blonde ship encountering an iceberg at Cape Horn. The H.M.S. Blonde traveled to Hawaiʻi with the remains of King Kamehameha II and Queen Kamamalu, both who contracted measles while in London.

The Commander of the ship was the Seventh Right Honorable George Anon, Lord Byron of the Royal Navy and cousin of the famous poet. The late Tenth Lord Byron willed this oil painting along with three other Dampier pieces to Washington Place.[2]

Material:  Oil on Canvas
Artist:  Robert Dampier
Date:  Jan. 8, 1826
Size:  Height: 45½ in.          Width:  57½ in.          Depth: 4¼ in.
Location:  Hallway, First Floor

H.M.S. Blonde Discovering Ye Wreck of Ye Francis Mary of Ye Evening

H.M.S. Blonde Discovering Ye Wreck of Ye Francis Mary of Ye Evening

This 1826 oil on canvas painting is in a gilt-covered gesso filled frame. Ornate with baroque acanthus leaves and flowers, the frame is reminiscent of the Renaissance Revival style. The painting depicts the H.M.S. Blonde ship after its leaves Hawaiʻi and completes the treacherous journey around the Cape Horn. The crew sights the rudderless Francis Mary and rescues two women and four men.

The Commander of the ship was the Seventh Right Honorable George Anson, Lord Byron of the Royal Navy and cousin of the famous poet. The late Tenth Lord Byron willed this oil along with three other Dampier paintings to Washington Place.[3]

Material:  Oil on Canvas
Artist:  Robert Dampier
Date:  1826
Size: Height:  45½ in.          Width:  57½in.          Depth: 4¼ in.
Location:  Blue Room

Hawaiian Coat of Arms [4]

Hawaiian Coat of Arms

Delicate brush strokes and brilliant gold are visible behind patterns of an acanthus-bordered shield. This is an eglomise which is a painting on the back side of the glass to produce a mirror finish. A gilt-covered boxwood frames the Hawaiian coat of arms which is suggested to be from the Kamehameha Period (1845-1874). Research indicates that this painting was listed on Queen Liliʻuokalani’s 1919 inventory and likely purchased by the Territory of Hawaiʻi.[5]

Medium:  Eglomise: paint, glass
Date:  Unknown
Size:  Height: 20 ¼ in.         Width: 24 ¼ in.         Depth: 1 ½ in.
Location:  Dominis Parlor

Citations

  • [1] Edited and Annotated by Forbes, David W. The Diaries of Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaiʻi 1885-1900. Hui Hanai, Honolulu 2019, p.150-151
  • [2] Des Jarlais, Mary Ellen C., Ph.D. and students, Decorative Arts of Washington Place, 1847-1987, Commissioned by Mrs. Jean M. Ariyoshi, First Lady, State of Hawaiʻi 1974-1986, p.11
  • [3] Des Jarlais, Decorative Arts of Washington Place, 1847-1987, p.93
  • [4] Courtesy of Central Pacific Bank, Historical Treasures of Washington Place 1987 Calendar
  • [5] Des Jarlais, Decorative Arts of Washington Place, 1847-1987, p.25

About Washington Place

Washington Place has remained at the heart of Hawaiʻi’s Capitol in downtown Honolulu, Oʻahu. Best known as the home of Hawaiʻi’s beloved Queen Liliʻuokalani, this National Historic Landmark is the only official residence of a state governor in the United States that was also home to a monarch. Today, the home is managed by the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Accounting and General Services.

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