Details
Contributor Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797 artist.
Title The execution of breaking on the rack [graphic].
Publisher London: Published by J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard
Publisher ENGLAND. London. 1792
Date Dec. 2, 1792
Physical Description 1 print: engraving; image 18 x 13 cm. (7.25 x 5.25 in)
Description Engraving was done after one of John Gabriel Stedman's own drawings; it records an incident that he witnessed during his travels in Surinam. According to Stedman, the man on the rack was sentenced to death for having shot and killed an overseer. As Stedman wrote, "Informed of the dreadful sentence, he composedly laid himself down on his back on a strong cross, on which, with arms and legs expanded, he was fastened by ropes; the executioner, also a black man, having now with a hatchet chopped off his left hand, next took up a heavy iron bar, with which, by repeated blows, he broke his bones to shivers, till the marrow, blood, and splinters flew about the field; but the prisoner never uttered a groan nor a sigh." (vol. 2, p. 295)
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 LXXI 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. II, p. 296.
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Punishment Scenes.
Subject Slaves -- Punishment & torture -- Suriname.
Slaves -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- 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 2 p 296
Accession number 755.Q