De Bry, Theodore [Pict Plate 5]

Theodore De Bry. [Pict Plate 5]. From Grands Voyages, Etliche Contrafeyt der Voelcker genannt Picten die vorzeiten einen Kreisz in Engellandt jnngehabt haben.

1620. 16 1/2 x 13 1/2 (Frame). Engraving. Framed. Very good condition. A/A

According to Luke Vavra, five Pict plates were included in this German publication by De Bry. The Picts inhabited what is now modern-day Scotland for several centuries prior to the Christian era. However, this particular plate does not depict a Pict woman, but rather a woman from a neighboring tribe. The plates were engraved by Theodore de Bry—whose initials, “TB,” appear at the bottom of the composition—and were based on designs by Jacques Le Moyne.

Theodor De Bry (1528-1598) was a prominent Flemish publisher and engraver. During his life he faced persecution for his Lutheran faith. He is best known for his engravings of the New World from "Grands Voyages", a work which would reach 30 volumes in scope. De Bry's landmark work depicted the early voyages and settlements in the Americas. His work greatly influenced the European view of the Americas for a long period of time.