Bernard Picart, Feast of the Sun in Peru, 1722, Paper

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This engraving, part of the 18th-century work *Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses\.* by A. Moubach and illustrated by Bernard Picart, depicts … Read more This engraving, part of the 18th-century work *Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses\.* by A. Moubach and illustrated by Bernard Picart, depicts two scenes related to Inca religious rituals honoring the Sun in Peru. 1. The upper image shows the lighting of the sacred fire by the Peruvians (Incas) on the eve of the great Feast of the Sun. The scene takes place in what appears to be an Inca city, with large stone structures and open courtyards. The ritual focuses on the sacred fire, an important element in many sun-worshiping cultures, symbolizing renewal and divine connection. The figures gathered around the fire are performing the ceremony with reverence, preparing for the festivities. 2. The lower image depicts the first day of the great Feast of the Sun, where L'Incas (the Inca leaders) present the sun with a vase filled with liquor, offering it to drink. This offering ceremony is filled with movement and excitement, as people participate in the ritual by dancing, playing instruments, and engaging in communal activities. The scene is lively, with figures wearing traditional Inca clothing, including feathered headdresses, while animals such as llamas lie in the foreground, highlighting the pastoral and agricultural nature of Inca society. The Inca civilization, centered in modern-day Peru, held the Feast of the Sun (Inti Raymi) as one of its most important religious festivals, dedicated to their sun god Inti. These engravings aim to represent that ceremonial atmosphere and give European audiences a view into the foreign and exotic world of the Andean people. What makes this engraving particularly interesting is its portrayal of the Inca’s highly structured religious and social customs. Picart, drawing from various sources, offers a detailed depiction of the grandeur and importance of Inca ceremonies in relation to the solar deity. His skillful rendering of the architecture, clothing, and symbolic elements like the sacred fire and the offering vessels, adds a layer of authenticity to the scenes, which were meant to educate and fascinate European readers. See less