A Theodor de Bry Depiction of the Indian Civilization

A Theodor de Bry Depiction of the Indian Civilization

Peru -- History -- Conquest, 1522-1548; America -- Early works to 1800; Canary Islands -- Description and travel; Florida -- History -- Huguenot colony, 1562-1565

The above image is taken from Belgian editor and publisher, Theodor de Bry’s America, Part VI. Part VI is one of the six volumes (as part of the Les Grands Voyages, or “The Discovery of America) that Theodor de Bry had published before his death as a compilation of early voyages he investigated whilst his time in London, England. After his death de Bry’s family and future descendants continued and eventually finished his work in 1630, with a total of fifty-four parts. This particular image pertains to the title page of part VI of the Les Grands Voyages and depicts various people from the nation of India performing a number of tasks such as gathering food, nurturing the land, and even carrying a man (most likely one of high stature) on a sedia gestatoria (a ceremonial throne used to carry someone viewed by his people as deserving). The image reflects evidence from Theodor de Bry of how some people in their respective countries went about their lives daily, based on information he gathered from first-hand observations by European explorers. This image, in accordance with many others by de Bry, offers a basis of contrast between the norm depiction of colonial groups such as Moors, Africans, and Turks evident in Shakespeare’s Othello and the actuality of such various civilizations. There are certain aspects of the Shakespearean Othello that offer questions regarding to the views of early modern Europeans and how they defined the moralities of other cultures such as those belonging to non-European and non-Christian people. Theodor de Bry, and specifically the above image, relay these questions by providing evidence to his particular portrayal of said cultures.

Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598, engraver

01EMORY ALMA

Francoforti : publisher not identified

1596

Feyerabend, Johann, 1550-1599, printer

With permission from the Rose Library

[no text]

Image

Latin; Italian

Book

G159 .B7 MCGREGOR FOLIO

16th Century

Paper

[no text]