| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Pieter van der Aa after Theodorus de Bry |
| Published | [Leyden, 1706-1727] |
| Dimensions | Image 132 x 181 mm, Plate 137 x 186 mm, Sheet 366 x 228 mm |
| Notes |
A scene from the expedition of Juan de Esquivel, from Pieter van der Aa's De aanmerkenswaardigste en alomberoemde zee- en landreizen der Portugeezen, Spanjaarden, Engelsen, en allerhande natiën. The scene depicts a massacre of the native West Indians by the Spanish. The Spaniards, having broken through the palisade surrounding the Indian village, set fire to the buildings and houses and slaughter the naked and unarmed inhabitants with muskets and halberds. Although appearing in the middle of an account of de Esquivel's movements in 1510, the scene is probably one of the infamous Higuey Massacre of 1503. de Esquivel, as part of his conquest of Jamaica, participated in the massacre of the native Taino people. By 1519, less than 2000 Taino remained on the island. The De aanmerkenswaardigste... was a colossal Dutch account of the various voyages of discovery in the West and East Indies undertaken by all of the European nations, excepting the Dutch. Van der Aa, ever the consummate salesman, astutely attributed the work to Gottfried, whose Chronicle he had published a few years earlier. The majority of the text for the multi-volume work was taken from pre-existing Dutch translations of the accounts of famous voyages, most notably de la Casas' description of the voyages of Columbus. Pieter van der Aa (1659 – 1733) was a Dutch publisher, best known for preparing maps and atlases. Despite producing his own work, van der Aa is also known for his production of pirated editions of illustrated publications and foreign bestsellers. Beginning his career as a Latin trade publisher in Lieden in 1683, van der Aa's ambition was to one day become the most famous printer in the city. In 1715, van der Aa was appointed the head printer for Leiden and its university. Theodor de Bry (1528-1598) was a Flemish-born engraver and editor, who travelled Europe. De Bry fled from Liège in fear of the Spanish persecution of Protestants, lived in Strasbourg, travelled to Antwerp, then London, and finally settled in Frankfurt-am-Main, where he started a publishing business and printing workshop. Condition: Clean, dark impression. Text below and to verso. Time toning to sheet. Small insect hole to top margin not affecting image. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £75.00 |
| Stock ID | 42043 |