Skin Stories: Gallery

Original ink wash drawing by Jacques Arago entitle “Naturel Des Isles Sandwich” (Native of the Hawaiian Islands). This very famous drawing, done in August 1819, shows a multitude of tattoo motifs including a memorial inscription on his arm relating to the recent death of Kamehameha I. The crescent fan motif or peahi niu is seen here on his opposite arm. The breast tattoos are also quite beautiful and unusual and consist of goats surrounded by a circle and composed of interspersed triangular motifs and circles with what appear to be dots inside. His legs show a classic run of triangular design elements running equally up each side. Honolulu Academy of Arts, Gift of Mrs. Frances Damon Holt in memory of John Dominis Holt. Collection of Mark and Carolyn Blackburn.

	GALLERY

	Original ink wash drawing by Jacques Arago entitle “Naturel Des Isles Sandwich” (Native of the Hawaiian Islands). This very famous drawing, done in August 1819, shows a multitude of tattoo motifs including a memorial inscription on his arm relating to the recent death of Kamehameha I. The crescent fan motif or peahi niu is seen here on his opposite arm. The breast tattoos are also quite beautiful and unusual and consist of goats surrounded by a circle and composed of interspersed triangular motifs and circles with what appear to be dots inside. His legs show a classic run of triangular design elements running equally up each side. Honolulu Academy of Arts, Gift of Mrs. Frances Damon Holt in memory of John Dominis Holt. Collection of Mark and Carolyn Blackburn.