Subject: Chile, Natives
Period: 1600 (circa)
Publication: Grands Voyages, Part VIII
Color: Black & White
Size:
6.9 x 5.3 inches
17.5 x 13.5 cm
This copper engraving is from a remarkable series of publications, illustrating voyages of discovery and travels of exploration to various parts of the world. The project was begun by Theodore de Bry of Frankfurt, in 1590 and was to continue for another 54 years. They became known collectively as the Grands Voyages (to America and the West Indies) and the Petits Voyages (to the Orient and the East Indies). De Bry died after the first six parts of the Grands Voyages were completed. The project was completed initially by his widow and two sons, Johann Theodore de Bry and Johann Israel de Bry, then by his son-in-law, Matthaus Merian in 1644.
This fascinating engraving first appeared in Part VIII of de Bry's Grands Voyages in 1600. It depicts the arrival of English navigator Sir Thomas Cavendish at Morro Moreno in present-day Chile on April 15, 1587. The natives are shown bringing fresh water and firewood to the Europeans. Special attention is paid to the natives' boats and lean-to shelters. Cavendish is best known for circumnavigating the globe from July 1586 to September 1588 in a deliberate imitation of Sir Francis Drake's legendary expedition. On a full sheet of Latin text measuring 9.2 x 13.6".
References:
Condition: A
There is faint scattered foxing mostly outside of the image.