1951–1952 Early Contacts of Hawaii with Outer World

Early Contacts of Hawaii with Outer World. Jean Charlot. October 25, 1951–January 17, 1952. Fresco. 67 ft wide × 11 ft high. Bishop Bank (renamed: First National Bank), Waikīkī Branch, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. JCC: ART: MU 21

Destroyed and divided into approximately seventy easel-size panels when the building was demolished in 1966, then replaced with the 1966 fresco of same name. Christ as the Vine, with Saints is a reference to this mural.

Overview

Photo: Philip Spalding III

full view of mural from a Bishop Bank brochure

Details

missionary
Chief learning letters
children at play
old man learning his letters
King Kamehameha II printing his name
missionary typesetter
head of Captain James Cook
imported cattle and taboo stick
Chief Boki
Chinese merchant with sandalwood
King Kamehameha
Louis Choris paints Kamehameha from life
missionary spinning
Hawaiian girl wearing first muumuu
woman beating tapa on tapa-board

Execution

Jean Charlot sketching first muumuu scene
Jean Charlot painting youth holding helmet
Nesta Obermer working on mural
cutting sketch of English captain

Studies

tapa beating and first muumuu
Kamehameha portrait, Chief Boki and sandalwood trade with China
barter with the English, printing press
printing press, missionary teaching alphabet

Division of mural into easel-size panels

Destroyed and divided into approximately seventy easel-size panels when the building was demolished in 1966.

Panels

Photo: The Contemporary Museum
Photo: Philip Spalding III
detail of Captain Cook's hand
Photo: The Honolulu Academy of Arts
Photo: Philip Spalding III
Photo: Philip Spalding III
location: Maryknoll School
Photo: Philip Spalding III
Photo: Philip Spalding III
24 in wide × 27 in high
Photo: Philip Spalding III
21 in wide × 31 in high
Photo: Philip Spalding III
Photo: Philip Spalding III
19 ³/₈ in wide × 32 ⁵/₈ in high. Liljestrand Foundation, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Philip Spalding III
19 ¹/₄ in wide × 30 ¹/₂ in high
Photo: Philip Spalding III
24 in wide × 27 in high
Photo: Philip Spalding III
24 ¹/₂ in wide × 31 ¹/₂ in high
Photo: Philip Spalding III
25 ³/₄ in wide × 26 in high. Liljestrand Foundation, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.