Details
Creator Perry engraver.
Contributor Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797 artist.
Title Female quadroon [sic] slave of Surinam [graphic] / Perry sculpt.
Publisher [London: Published by J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard]
Publisher ENGLAND. London. 1796
Date [between 1791 and 1796]
Physical Description 1 print: engraving; image 19 x 14 cm. (7.25 x 5.25 in)
Description Engraving was done after one of John Gabriel Stedman's own drawings, which record his impressions of Surinam. It offers a detailed frontal view of female slave from Surinam, who, being a quaderoon, belonged to a "class . . .much respected for their affinity to Europeans." (A quaderoon, as Stedman explained, is "the offspring of a white and a mulatto;" and there were many in Surinam.) The plate is accompanied by a lengthy passage, which reads as follows: "To give the reader a more lively idea of these people, I shall describe the figure and dress of a Quaderoon girl, as they usually appear in this colony. They are mostly tall, straight, and gracefully formed; rather more slender than the Mulattoes, and never go naked above the waist, like the former. Their dress commonly consists of a sattin petticoat, covered with flowered gauze; a close short jacket, made of best India chintz or silk, laced before and shewing about an hand-breadth of a fine muslin shirt between the jacket and the petticoat. As for stockings and shoes, the slaves in this country never wear them. Their heads are adorned with a fine bunch of black hair in short natural ringlets; they wear a black or white beaver hat, with a feather, or a gold loop and button: their neck, arms, and ancles are ornamented with chains, bracelets, gold medals, and beads. All these fine women have European husbands, to the no small mortification of the fair Creolians; yet should it be known that an European female had an intercourse with a slave of any denomination, she is for ever detested, and the slave loses his life without mercy." (vol. 1, p. 297)
Is part of Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797. Narrative, of a five year's expedition, against the revolted Negroes of Surinam. London: Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard, & J. Edwards, Pall Mall, 1796.
Notes Plate XXXII in John Gabriel Stedman's Narrative, of a five year's expedition, against the revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the wild coast of South America; from the year 1772 to 1777 (London: Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard, & J. Edwards, Pall Mall, 1796) vol. I, facing p. 296.
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Scenes from Slave Life.
Subject Women slaves -- Clothing & dress -- Suriname.
Miscegenation -- Suriname.
Geographic subject Suriname -- Pictorial works -- 18th century.
Genre Engravings -- 1790-1800.
Book illustrations -- 1790-1800.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Books & Other Texts | Rare | Am 1796 Sted 755.Q v 1 p 296
Accession number 755.Q