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Detailed images showing the theft of Sir Francis Drake's hat by local Indians, at Rio de La Plata, from De Bry's Grand Voyage.
This fine engraving by Van Deutecum shows a scene during one of Drake's earliest contacts with America. Drake reached the coast of Brazil on April 5, 1578, then entered the Rio de la Plata, where he decided to bur one of his ships, because it was in such bad condition. The scene shows European soldiers standing on shore while native Americans dance and run away with Drake's hat. Includes five ships, one of which is drawn by men onto the shore and set ablaze. Also includes bows, arrows, spears, and guns or muskets. One man holds the hatband from Drake's hat in his hand.
Theodor de Bry (1528-1598) was a prominent Flemish engraver and publisher best known for his engravings of the New World. Born in Liege, de Bry hailed from the portion of Flanders then controlled by Spain. The de Brys were a family of jewelers and engravers, and young Theodor was trained in those artisanal trades.
As a Lutheran, however, his life and livelihood were threatened when the Spanish Inquisition cracked down on non-Catholics. De Bry was banished and his goods seized in 1570. He fled to Strasbourg, where he studied under the Huguenot engraver Etienne Delaune. He also traveled to Antwerp, London, and Frankfurt, where he settled with his family.
In 1590, de Bry began to publish his Les Grands Voyages, which would eventually stretch to thirty volumes released by de Bry and his two sons. The volumes contained not only important engraved images of the New World, the first many had seen of the geographic novelties, but also several important maps. He also published a collection focused on India Orientalis. Les Grands Voyages was published in German, Latin, French, and English, extending de Bry’s fame and his view of the New World.
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