Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row, King of the Generethgarich

About this artwork

Birthplace unknown

Art Historical Context

This 1710 print by British engraver John Simon portrays Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row, identified as a chief of the Generethgarich, likely an Iroquois leader. Rendered in the mezzotint technique popular at the time, the image shows the subject in a forested setting, equipped with a bow, arrows, and quiver, while displaying distinctive tattoos and a wolf motif that may reference clan identity. Simon’s work captures the dignified presence of Indigenous diplomacy during the early colonial era. The portrait belongs to a series documenting the famous 1710 visit of four Iroquois sachems to London, where they met Queen Anne to discuss alliances against French forces in North America. Such prints served as both souvenirs and political tools, introducing British audiences to Native American leaders and shaping contemporary perceptions of Indigenous sovereignty and culture. As a widely circulated print rather than a unique painting, this work helped preserve visual records of these historic figures for future generations. Today it resides in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, offering viewers a glimpse into the complex intersections of diplomacy, art, and cross-cultural exchange in the early eighteenth century.