Funeral Ceremonies of the Orinoco and Brazilian Indigenous Peoples, 1734, Paper

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Title: Funeral Ceremonies of the Orinoco and Brazilian Indigenous Peoples, 1734 : This striking copperplate engraving, published in 1734 in … Read more Title: Funeral Ceremonies of the Orinoco and Brazilian Indigenous Peoples, 1734 : This striking copperplate engraving, published in 1734 in Bernard Picart’s monumental *Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde*, presents two vivid ethnographic scenes of funerary practices among South American Indigenous groups. The upper half illustrates a *funeral ceremony of the peoples living near the Orinoco River*, which traverses modern-day Venezuela and Colombia. The scene captures a moment of ceremonial activity near a hut, where two human skeletons are prominently displayed upright under a canopy—a representation possibly meant to honor ancestors or signify the dead's spiritual presence. Figures are engaged in transporting a wrapped corpse while others bathe or work in the surrounding river environment, offering a glimpse into daily life blended with ritual observance. Several figures gesture toward the skeletal remains, indicating a communal awareness of the ceremony. The lower panel depicts the *funeral rites of the Brazilians*, focusing on a tribal group engaged in expressive mourning. Naked figures lament around a corpse being handled by two men, possibly preparing it for burial. At the right, a striking detail shows a deceased individual being cradled in a hammock while another person performs what appears to be a rite of farewell or spiritual separation. Women sit in circles tearing at their hair or covering their faces, emphasizing the grief and ritual sorrow of the moment. Both compositions convey the Enlightenment-era fascination with non-European customs, filtered through European artistic conventions that often dramatized or misunderstood Indigenous cultures. Though not entirely accurate in anthropological detail, Picart’s engravings were among the first major efforts to systematically record global religious and ritualistic practices for a European audience. Condition: Good. Strong plate impression on laid paper with ample margins. Slight age toning and a few minor edge stains and spots in the bottom margin, well outside the image. Framing suggestion: This detailed and contemplative piece is best displayed in a natural wood or ebony frame with a warm-toned mat that complements the aged paper. Ideal for historical, ethnographic, or Enlightenment-themed collections. See less