Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant)

The Mohawk Thayendanegea, also called Brant (1742–1807), was an important but controversial figure. Spurred by the American Revolution, in 1775–76 he travelled on a delegation to London to defend his peoples’ sovereignty in the changing political landscape. Romney paid particular attention to his sitter’s dress, which expressed Thayendanegea’s complex identity: rooted in his indigenous heritage, it also reflected his alliance with the British. At his neck hangs a small cross and a silver gorget, or armour, a gift from George III. He holds a pipe tomahawk – a powerful ritual object, used to mark both war and peace between different peoples. Frame: running moulding with carved ornament, gilded. Britain, second-half 18th century