Object Details
Artist
James J. Williams, 1853 - 19 Apr 1926
Sitter
Kapiolani, 1834 - 1899
Exhibition Label
Born in Hilo, Hawaii
Queen Kapi‘olani was the consort of King
David Kala¯kaua, who reigned over the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1874 to 1891. Born Kapi‘olani Napelakapuokaka‘e, she was the granddaughter of the last king of Kaua‘i, King Kaumuali‘i, who ruled over an independent Kaua‘i before Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands under one kingdom in 1810. Although Kala¯kaua was elected monarch in 1874, their coronation ceremony was not held until February 12, 1883.
This coronation portrait shows Kapi‘olani sitting on the Hawaiian throne covered by the ‘ahu ‘ula, or featherwork cape, of Kalanikauika‘alaneo, also referred to as Keo¯pu¯olani, the highest-ranking wife of Kamehameha I. The kwala‘o¯ cloak, which Kamehameha I acquired after killing Kïwala‘o¯, the chief of Hawai‘i, in 1782, covers the table next to her.
King Kala¯kaua and Queen Kapi‘olani were avid collectors of Native Hawaiian featherwork objects. The couple hoped that by supporting Native Hawaiian traditions, they would stimulate national pride and keep the Hawaiian monarchy strong.
Nacida en Hilo, Hawái
La reina Kapi‘olani fue la consorte del rey David Kala¯kaua, monarca del Reino de Hawái desde 1874 hasta 1891. Nacida con el nombre de Kapi‘olani Napelakapuokaka‘e, era nieta de Kaumuali‘i, último rey del Kaua‘i independiente, antes de que Kamehameha I unificara las islas hawaianas en un solo reino en 1810. Aunque Kala¯kaua fue elegido monarca en 1874, la ceremonia de coronación de la pareja no se efectuó hasta el 12 de febrero de 1883.
Este retrato de coronación muestra a Kapi‘olani sentada en el trono hawaiano cubierto por el ‘ahu ‘ula, o manto plumario, que perteneció a Kalanikauika‘alaneo, también llamada Keo¯pu¯olani, quien fue la esposa de mayor rango de Kamehameha I. La mesa junto a Kapi‘olani está cubierta con el kwala‘o¯, manto que adquirió Kamehameha I cuando mató a Kïwala‘o¯, alto jefe de Hawái en 1782.
El rey Kala¯kaua y la reina Kapi‘olani eran ávidos coleccionistas de arte plumario hawaiano. Esperaban que su apoyo a las tradiciones nativas fomentaría el orgullo nacional y fortalecería la monarquía.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Date
1883
Object number
NPG.80.319
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Photograph
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 14.6 × 10.3 cm (5 3/4 × 4 1/16")
Mount: 16.4 × 10.7 cm (6 7/16 × 4 3/16")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Jewelry\Necklace
Costume\Jewelry\Earring
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Costume\Headgear\Headdress\Crown
Interior\Studio\Photography
Photographic format\Cabinet card
Kapiolani: Female
Kapiolani: Politics and Government\Ruler\Queen
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.80.319