Africa
Print
1732 (printed and published)
1732 (printed and published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This engraving representing Africa is one of a set showing it, along with Europe, Asia and America, as female figures. It was engraved by Johann Justin Preissler after Edmè Bouchardon. The engravings correspond to descriptions in Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia, an illustrated dictionary of abstract concepts widely used by artists from the early 1600s.
Here, Africa carries distinguishing symbols of her continent: she wears a coral necklace and an elephant headdress; carries a palm tree and a scorpion; and is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes.
Here, Africa carries distinguishing symbols of her continent: she wears a coral necklace and an elephant headdress; carries a palm tree and a scorpion; and is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Africa (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving on paper |
| Brief description | 'Africa', engraving by Johann Justin Preisler after Edmé Bouchardon, published by Georg Martin Preisler in Nuremberg, Germany, 1732 |
| Physical description | Engraving showing a female figure wearing an elephant headdress and carries a palm tree and a scorpion. She is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'AFRICA / E. Bouchardon inv et Del / J.J Preissler Pictor.Nor.F' |
| Gallery label | PRINT: AFRICA
German, 1732
Engravings by Johann Preisler (1698-1771) after Edmé Bouchardon (1698-1762), published by Georg Martin Preisler in Nuremberg
From a set showing the four parts of the world: Europe, Asia, American and Africa. Each is a female figure corresponding to the descriptions given in Cesare Ripa's Iconologia, an illustrated dictionary of abstract concepts widely used by artists from the early 1600s. Africa wears a coral necklace and an elephant headdress and carries a palm tree and a scorpion. She is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes.
26333.3 |
| Object history | From a set showing the four parts of the world: Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Each is a female figure corresponding to the descriptions given in Cesare Ripa's Iconologia, an illustrated dictionary of abstract concepts widely used by artists from the early 1600s. Africa wears a coral necklace and an elephant headdress and carries a palm tree and a scorpion. She is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes. |
| Production | From a set showing the four parts of the world: Europe, Asia, America and Africa, corresponding to the descriptions given in Cesare Ripa's Iconologia. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This engraving representing Africa is one of a set showing it, along with Europe, Asia and America, as female figures. It was engraved by Johann Justin Preissler after Edmè Bouchardon. The engravings correspond to descriptions in Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia, an illustrated dictionary of abstract concepts widely used by artists from the early 1600s. Here, Africa carries distinguishing symbols of her continent: she wears a coral necklace and an elephant headdress; carries a palm tree and a scorpion; and is accompanied by a lion and a knot of snakes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 26333:3 |
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| Record created | July 19, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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