Creator |
Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598 engraver. |
Contributor |
Stradanus, Joannes. |
Title |
Nigritae in scrutandis venis metallicis ab Hispanis in Insulas Abelgantur. [graphic]. |
Title |
Blacks are removed by Spaniards to the Islands in the process of searching for veins of gold ore. |
Publisher |
[Francofurti ad Moenum: s.n] |
Publisher |
GERMANY. Frankfurt am Main. 1595 |
Date |
[1595] |
Physical Description |
1 print: woodcut; image 16 x 20 cm (6.25 x 7.75 in), overall 34 x 23 cm (13.75 x 9.5 in) |
Description |
This mining scene is one of the earliest known illustrations of slave labor in the New World. Under the supervision of the
Spaniards, several slaves pour buckets of molten metal onto the ground; others work in the caves seen in the background.
|
Is part of |
Benzoni, Girolamo, b. 1519. Americae pars quinta nobilis & admiratione plena Hieronymi Bezoni Mediolanensis. Francofurti ad
Moenum: Theodoro de Bry. Loed. cive Franc, 1595.
|
Notes |
Plate II in Girolamo Benzoni's Americae pars quinta nobilis & admiratione plena Hieronymi Bezoni Mediolanensis, secundae sectionis
h[istor]ia[e] Hispanorum: tum in Indos crudelitatem, Gallorumq[ue] pirataru[m] de Hispanis toties reportata spolia: . . .
(Francofurti ad Moenum: Theodoro de Bry. Leod. cive Franc, 1595), part V of DeBry's Voyages.
|
|
DeBry's illustration is based on the following passage in Benzoni's text from the translation of his work by W.H. Smyth: "When
the natives of this island (Espanola) began to be extirpated, the Spaniards provided themselves with blacks (Mori) from Guinea
. . . and they have brought great numbers thence. When there were mines, they made them work at the gold and silver; but since
those came to an end they have increased the sugar-works, and in these and in tending the flocks they are chiefly occupied,
besides serving their masters in all else." (History of the New World by Girolamo Benzoni, of Milan. Shewing his travels in
America, from A.D. 1541 to 1556 . . . Now first translated, and edited by Rear-Admiral W.H. Smyth (London: Printed for the
Hakluyt Society, 1857) p. 93.
|
|
Illustrations in part V of DeBry's Voyages were engraved by Theodor DeBry after drawings by Joannes Stradanus. |
|
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Work Scenes. |
Subject |
Slavery -- West Indies -- History -- 16th century -- Pictorial works. |
|
Gold mines and mining -- Hispaniola. |
|
Silver mines and mining -- Hispaniola. |
|
Slave labor -- Hispaniola. |
Genre |
Woodcuts -- 1590-1600. |
|
Book illustrations -- 1590-1600. |
Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Books & Other Texts | Rare | *Am 1590 Har (b.w) Log 1076.F plate II |
Accession number |
Log 1076.F |