The De Rienzi Gallery

In 1836 M.G.L. Domeny de Rienzi's Océanie ou Cinquième Partie du Monde was published by Firmin Didot Frères in Paris, France.

The prints of Tonga which follow are from this classic three-volume work.

The images below are details. To view the complete engravings, click on the thumbnails.


a Tongan chief aboard ship with French officers	early 19th century Tongan canoes on a reef	Tongans battling European explorers	theft of a French boat by the Tongans

Tongan men preparing an earth oven (umu)	athletes, boxing and fighting with sticks	Tongan female athletes boxing	a formal Tongan kava ceremony

nocturnal music and dance, Tonga	Tongan village Nomuka Island, Haapai Islands	an enclosure behind Tongan village houses	fortifications of Mafanga, Tonga