Creator |
Nusbiegel, Georg Paul, 1713-1776, engraver. |
Title |
[Friedenstahl in St. Croix] [graphic] / C.G.A.O. pinx ; G.P. Nussbiegel sc. Nor. |
Publisher |
[Barby, Germany: s.n] |
Publisher |
GERMANY. Barby. 1777 |
Date |
[1777] |
Physical Description |
1 print: engraving; image 17 x 21 cm. (26 x 10 in) |
Description |
As the caption suggests, the image is set on the island of St. Croix in early May 1769, and it shows a group of black baptismal
candidates being led into the "Negro church," for baptism. Dressed in long white robes, trousers, and turban-like head-dresses,
the men file into the church first. They are followed by the women, who are dressed in long white dresses and white caps.
In front of the long, simple hall that serves as the church, some black women sit in a courtyard bordered by trees and shubbery.
According to the caption, the ceremony takes place around noon. Missionaries, soldiers, and black citizens (all men) meet
and converse in the open space in front of the church. Others watch the procession of baptismal candidates;some appear to
pray, holding their palms upward. The missionaries' quarters appear in the background of the image, while the Negroes' quarters
are seen to the right.
|
Is part of |
Oldendorp, Christian Georg Andreas, 1721-1787. Geschichte der Mission der Evangelischen Brüder auf den caraibischen Inseln
S. Thomas, S. Croix, und S. Jan. Barby: Christian Friedrich Laux, and in Leipzig by Weidmanns Erben and Reich, 1777.
|
Notes |
Folded plate at the back of Christian Georg Andreas Oldendorp's Geschichte der Mission der Evangelischen Brüder auf den caraibischen
Inseln S. Thomas, S. Croix, und S. Jan (Barby: Bey Christian Friedrich Laux, und in Leipzig in Commission bey Weidmanns Erben
und Reich, 1777), n.p.
|
|
Caption underneath the image reads: "Friedenstahl in St. Croix an einem Bettage, da die Täuflinge zur Taufe in Kirche geführt
werden, 1768 zu Anfang May und zu Mittage, da die Sonne übern Scheitel steht, aller Schatten senckrecht faellt, überhaupt
weing Schatten ist. Hinten das Wohnhaus, zur linken die Neger Kirche, zur rechten Negerhaeufer." The text can be translated
as follows, "Friedenstahl in St. Croix on a day of prayer, on which the baptismal candidates are led into church for baptism,
Wednesday, the beginning of May, 1769, because the sun is at its apex, all shadows fall perpendicular to the ground, there
is little shade. In the background, the missionaries' quarters; to the left, the Negro church; to the right, Negro quarters."
|
|
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Scenes from Slave Life. |
Subject |
Slavery -- Virgin Islands of the United States -- Saint Croix -- History -- 18th century -- Pictorial works. |
|
Baptisms -- Saint Croix (V.I.) |
|
Blacks -- Religious life -- Saint Croix (V.I.) |
|
Missionaries -- Saint Croix (V.I.) |
Genre |
Engravings -- 1770-1780. |
|
Book illustrations -- 1770-1780. |
Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Books & Other Texts | Rare | Am 1777 Olde 69802.O n.p. |
Accession number |
69802.O |