A portrayal of pristine Hawaii by one of the earliest artists to paint on canvas amongst the islands, Joe Strong. Majestic Diamond Head holds the background for Hawaiian fishermen beaching their outrigger canoes on the shore of Honolulu Bay. One man holds aloft a long fishing pole, and there is a drying rack for the catch set up on the beach. A distant sail cuts across the vast bay under an artistic atmospheric, colorful sky and lush foliage, completing the tropical island composition and making this a superior work.
This painting is a large work by Strong, and its importance is increased as we strongly believe this work hung in the Hawaiian Royal Palace. Dated 1888, it has a provenance back to ownership by the Royal Undertaker serving Hawaiian Monarch King Kalakaua. While the scene is serene and peaceful, political upheaval was just underway pitting many native Hawaiians and their traditions against American businessmen in favor of annexation to the United States. By 1893, the Royal Family had been overthrown and the islands changed forevermore. This is an exceedingly rare and fantastic view of late 19th Century Hawaii.
