4 Items in this Learning Collection

Copyright
All Rights Reserved ()

Allegorical Representation of 'America'

Accession Number
1960/2.24

Title
Allegorical Representation of 'America'

Artist(s)
Marten de Vos; Maarten de Vos

Object Creation Date
1594-1600

Medium & Support
pen and black ink with ink wash on cream-colored paper

Dimensions
4 15/16 in x 4 15/16 in (12.54 cm x 12.54 cm);19 ¼ in x 14 ⅜ in (48.89 cm x 36.51 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Label copy
Attributed to Maarten de Vos
Flanders, 1532–1603
Allegorical Representation of America
circa 1594–1600
Pen and black ink with ink wash
University of Michigan Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 1960/2.24
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Americas were a largely unknown land with a powerful allure for Europeans wanting to expand their colonial territories and exploit its natural resources. This allegorical depiction of America shows it personified as a female figure seated on a tree stump, adorned with a feather girdle and headdress, armbands, and a necklace of shells over her shoulder. Around her are emblems of America’s fecundity: a rhinoceros (often confused with an armadillo), a jaguar with the head of a lion, a fantastic parrot, and a fruit-laden tree. Staff in hand she faces the European ship at the upper left while her left arm, draped with strands of beads, holds a bowl as if to offer the newcomers the wealth of her lands.
De Vos made numerous drawings intended for translation into prints by some of the leading engravers in Europe. This image showing how Europeans perceived the Americas may have been intended as a decorative plaquette or even a stained glass.

Primary Object Classification
Drawing

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
America
Americas
Birds
Reptiles and amphibians
allegory
feathers
fruit
lions
rhinoceros
severed heads
staff
trees

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