Indigenous People of Peru, 1828, Paper

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Title: Indigenous People of Peru, Hand-Colored Ethnographic Portrait, Original 1828 : An original hand-colored engraving depicting Indigenous inhabitants of Peru, … Read more Title: Indigenous People of Peru, Hand-Colored Ethnographic Portrait, Original 1828 : An original hand-colored engraving depicting Indigenous inhabitants of Peru, published as part of the celebrated scientific expedition of French naval explorer Louis Isidore Duperrey aboard the corvette La Coquille. This striking ethnographic portrait originates from the atlas accompanying Voyage autour du Monde, one of the most important French voyages of exploration undertaken during the nineteenth century. The composition presents carefully observed bust-length portraits of a Peruvian man and woman. The simplicity of the design focuses attention on the sitters themselves, highlighting facial features, hairstyle, clothing, and personal adornment. The male sitter wears a blue garment and cross pendant, while the female sitter is shown with a long braid and dark dress. Together they provide a fascinating visual record of cultural life in Peru during the early decades of the nineteenth century. Duperrey's expedition circumnavigated the globe between 1822 and 1825, gathering scientific, geographic, botanical, zoological, and ethnographic information from South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Asia. The resulting atlas became one of the great illustrated travel publications of the era and remains highly regarded for both its scientific importance and artistic quality. Unlike many later ethnographic illustrations produced from secondary sources, these expedition plates were based on observations collected during the voyage itself. They therefore represent an important documentary record of the peoples encountered during a period of increasing European exploration and scientific inquiry. Today, engravings from the Duperrey expedition are sought after by collectors of South American history, Peru, Pacific exploration, anthropology, travel literature, and nineteenth-century scientific illustration. The generous margins, elegant hand-coloring, and understated composition give this sheet both historical significance and strong decorative appeal. This is an original nineteenth-century engraving, not a later reproduction. Sold unframed. Condition Report: Good condition consistent with age. Light overall age toning and scattered foxing, mainly in the margins. Minor handling wear at the sheet edges. Original hand-coloring remains attractive. Wide margins preserved. Please study images carefully. Framing Tips: This engraving displays beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or antique gilt frame with an ivory museum-quality mat. The large margins allow for generous matting, creating an elegant gallery presentation. Particularly suitable for libraries, studies, travel-themed interiors, and collections focused on South American history and exploration. Please note that any framed or room-view images are provided for visualization purposes only. The print is sold unframed, and framed examples may not be shown to exact scale. Technique: Hand-Colored Engraving Maker: Louis Isidore Duperrey Expedition, France, circa 1828. See less