Going to the Source | Pocahontas & Art as a Primary Source

In today’s video let’s get a glimpse into how our historic tailors use period illustrations as primary sources when they are building our historic garments.
This portrait is the only known portrait of Pocahontas from life, and was created in 1616 in England by the Dutch engraver, Simon van de Passe. The engraving has been the model for many of Pocahontas’s later portraits. encyclopediavi...
The dress featured in this video will be on display May 11, 2024 to December 1, 2024 as part of our next Special Exhibition presenting Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design. The exhibition will explore costume design, historical clothing and research behind the design. Two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s work in film and television has spanned generations. www.jyfmuseums...

[@richardglady3009]

What a beautiful example of not only the clothing, but the vast amount of research and work needed to create the clothing. Thank you for sharing!

[@JYFMuseums]

Thank you, and you are so welcome! Samantha does some amazing work.

[@madlass3093]

Great video! Is that Samantha Bullat? I'm a huge fannn🤩​

[@JYFMuseums]

Yes! 😊 www.youtube.com/@TheCoutureCourtesan

[@freddienunnelley9234]

Amazing work recreating this historical outfit!

[@JYFMuseums]

Thank you!

[@jeffcupo4160]

Fascinating video, thanks for sharing!

[@JYFMuseums]

Our pleasure!

[@cs3742]

When I was sworn in as a US Senate employee in 1978 the original of this portrait was hanging in the Senate disbursing office. the clerk swore it was the original. I was flabbergasted. I later learned that many of the paintings in the Capitol and Senate/House offices are loaned by the National Gallery. It is now in the National Portrait Gallery. I would dearly love to see this exhibition but it is a long drive from Florida. Pocahontas must have thought the English wore really crazy clothes.

[@shelbyyoung9209]

Her name is Matoaka. Pocahontas is a family nickname.

[@JYFMuseums]

Yes, and Amonute was also her name.

[@shelbyyoung9209]

@JYFMuseums why call her pocahontas then? Use her real name.

[@JYFMuseums]

It was common for Powhatan people to take new names at different points and significant events of their lives. Pocahontas, Amonute, Matoaka, and Rebecca are each of her real names.

[@srdool]

John Rolfe could have testified to what she wasn't wearing. Sorry for that. Good job reporting on this subject for sure.

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

Pretty flat and depricating way to describe Pocahontas's great role here - she "had to" go to England as a representative in fine clothing, she was a "tool". Way to strip her of her dignity! Do you have any idea what great honor they were showing her, what a compliment, how highly they thought of her and how much they trusted her, to make her their ambassador?

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

I read that tons of people wanted to meet her, that she was received by all manner of important people during her time there- & she made a positive impression on the King & Queen... Edit: word

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

@@OcarinaSapphr- I guarantee it. She was an excellent woman. Few women like her have ever lived. And she was treated with great honor and respect.

[@erinodowd]

If you knew the true history, you wouldn’t say that. Try reading “The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History Book by Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star" and Dr. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow. Pocahontas, who has often been referred to as an example of Stockholm Sydrome, was kidnapped, raped repeatedly, and then murdered by poisoning and her brutalized body left in England, far away from her home and family. She was paraded around in England as a political decoy for the Virginia Company’s supposed “success story:” converting the supposed “savages” to Christianity… and making the colony into a viable business venture. Their business? Tobacco, a sacred medicine to the Powhatan which was stolen and exploited with the kidnapping of Pocahontas, whose alliance (by marriage) with John Rolfe gave him all of the knowledge to grow their superior plant. These heinous “achievements” convinced the queen to keep funding their genocidal venture. The public did not generally support the idea of the native peoples of the Americas being harmed. They would not support the crown if they knew the truth. Looks can be deceiving, and John Smith was known to lie. Many of his accounts contain discrepancies. Pocahontas, who actually by all accounts was already SEVERELY tortured for years at this point and hanging on to her life by threads… spoke up for her people to John Smith when they crossed paths in England. Within a short period of time, she suddenly fell ill and died.