Joseph Dufour. Tonga. 1804.

Panel 15: The Royal Court of Tongatapu

Together, these three panels form one of the most sophisticated and celebratory sequences in Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique, blending ethnographic observation with classical composition. They reflect the fascination of Enlightenment Europe with the political, ceremonial, and artistic life of the Pacific — not as primitive, but as parallel civilizations of grace, strength, and order.

Left: The Royal Court of Tongatapu

This striking panel centers on King Fatafehi Paulaho, the paramount chief of Tonga, seated beneath a banana tree with one of his favored wives. He is depicted with poise and dignity, dressed in an elaborate costume composed of barkcloth and feathers, arranged in ceremonial fashion. Charvet’s depiction is both theatrical and respectful, emphasizing the regal presence of the monarch. Beside him, his consort wears a garment inspired by classical ideals of feminine grace — a nod to European mythological aesthetics as filtered through Polynesian traditions. The setting conveys both abundance and order, situating Tonga’s royal court within a landscape of tropical vitality and cultivated elegance.

Middle: The Ceremonial Wrestling Match

In the adjacent panel, a dynamic hagataha wrestling match is underway. The contest unfolds in an open arena flanked by musicians, dignitaries, and attendants. The fighters, caught mid-motion, embody not just athletic prowess but ritual expression. At the rear of the scene, shaded by tamarind trees, sit two notable guests of the Tongan court: Fīnau ʻUlukālala, a high-ranking chief, and Omai, the Tahitian traveler who famously accompanied Captain Cook to England. Their presence, along with several noble women, underscores the diplomatic and ceremonial nature of the gathering.

This is not merely a sport, but a display of prestige, alliance, and cultural sophistication

— political theater in its highest form.

Right: Visitors from the Marquesas

Completing the sequence, the third panel introduces royal figures from the island of St. Christine (Tahuata, in the Marquesas). King Honoo and his queen rest beneath a massive fig tree supported by mimosa, gazing upon the wrestling spectacle with