Description

1594. Broadsheet on laid paper (35.0 x 23.4 cm). Hand-colouring of the engraving and the initial letter. Printed surface ca. 27.0 x 21.5 cm. = Print from Theodore (Theodorus, Theodor) de Bry's Grands Voyages, Part IV. The allegorical illustration shows Columbus on his ship, the waters teeming with sea gods and goddesses, and with islands and mountains in the distance. The title means (from a 16th century European perspective): "Columbus, first discoverer of the West Indies". The Flemish engraver, goldsmith (!) and publisher De Bry (1528-1598) was ". famous for his depictions of early European expeditions to the Americas. The Spanish Inquisition forced de Bry, a Protestant, to flee his native, Spanish-controlled Southern Netherlands. He moved around Europe, starting from his birth on the city of Liège in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, then to Strasbourg, Antwerp, London and Frankfurt, where he settled. De Bry created a large number of engraved illustrations for his books. Most of his books were based on first-hand observations by explorers" (Wikipedia). A very good copy.