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Print - Africa
  • Africa
    Johann Justin Preissler, born 1698 - died 1771
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Africa

  • Object:

    Print

  • Place of origin:

    Nuremberg, Germany (printed and published)

  • Date:

    1732 (printed and published)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Johann Justin Preissler, born 1698 - died 1771 (engraver)
    Bouchardon, Edme, born 1698 - died 1762 (after, artist)
    Georg Martin Preissler, born 1700 - died 1754 (publisher)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Engraving on paper

  • Museum number:

    26333:3

  • Gallery location:

    Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D, case EO, shelf 64, box A

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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.

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.

Place of Origin

Nuremberg, Germany (printed and published)

Date

1732 (printed and published)

Artist/maker

Johann Justin Preissler, born 1698 - died 1771 (engraver)
Bouchardon, Edme, born 1698 - died 1762 (after, artist)
Georg Martin Preissler, born 1700 - died 1754 (publisher)

Materials and Techniques

Engraving on paper

Marks and inscriptions

'AFRICA / E. Bouchardon inv et Del / J.J Preissler Pictor.Nor.F'

Dimensions

Height: 27.7 cm, Width: 32.4 cm

Object history note

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.

Descriptive line

'Africa', engraving by Johann Justin Preisler after Edmé Bouchardon, published by Georg Martin Preisler in Nuremberg, Germany, 1732

Production Note

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

Lion; Figure; Elephant; Female; Headdress; Snakes; Necklace; Coral; Personification; Palm tree; Scorpion; Africa

Categories

Prints; Black History; Ornament prints

Collection code

PDP

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Qr_O114212
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