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Engraving From the Final Edition of Grand Voyages
A nice engraving from the thirteenth and final book in De Bry's Grand Voyages released in 1634. This engraving comes from the first part of the volume which features a description of New England largely drawn from Sir Richard Whitbourne's 1620 publication Discourse and Discovery of New-Found-Land.
The engraving showcases the hunting practices of the indigenous people of Mount Desert Island. Pyres are placed in strategic locations on the island and lit on fire to force prey to flee. This method appears to be effective as groups of natives are shown attacking moose as they struggle to swim. In the foreground, a majestic moose watches the slaughter of its friends as natives lounge on the beach collecting fish.
Although this work was published as part of de Bry's Grand Voyages, de Bry had very little to do with the engraving as he had been dead since 1598. Rather, his sons continued to engrave and publish additional volumes in the series.
An excerpt from the National Parks Service on this engraving:
"Published by copperplate engravers Theodore de Bry & Sons in Frankfurt am Main, the series began in 1590 and continued for half a century. Ultimately comprised of 57 parts, collectively known as the Grands and Petits Voyages, it featured more than 500 engravings. This particular image, made by Theodore de Bry’s grandson-in-law Mattheüs Merian (1593-1650) appeared in Grand Voyages to America, Part 13 (p.15)"
This engraving (along with the many others that make up de Bry's Grand Voyages can be viewed here.
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.
Mathaus Merian (1593-1650) was the father of engraver Matthäus the Younger, and of the painter, engraver, and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian. He was born in Basel, Switzerland and trained in engraving in Zurich. After a time in Nancy, Paris and Strasbourg, he settled in Frankfurt. While there, he worked for Johann Theodor de Bry, the publisher and son of the travel writer. In 1617, he married Maria Magdalena de Bry, Johann Theodor’s daughter. In 1623, Merian took over the de Bry publishing house upon the death of his father-in-law. Merian’s best known works are detailed town views which, due to their accuracy and artistry, form a valuable record of European urban life in the first half of the sixteenth century
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