Theodor de Bry

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Theodor de Bry (1528–1598) was a Flemish designer, engraver, printmaker, and publisher. He was born in the city of Liège, but around 1570 he fled to Strasbourg to escape religious persection at the hands of Spanish Catholics. Around 1586 he moved again, to England, where he was exposed to stories and artistic depictions of European explorations of the New World.

In 1589, he moved to Frankfurt, Germany, to join his family. Assisted by his sons, he began to publish numerous volumes of literature about New World exploration, illustrated with his own engravings. The first of these, published in 1590, was a new edition of Thomas Hariot’s A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. De Bry based the book’s illustrations on the watercolor paintings of colonist John White. These engravings provided Europeans with some of their earliest notions of what the New World looked like.

De Bry continued publishing until his death in 1598.

Resources created by Theodor de Bry

Records 21–39 of 39 displayed: go to page 1, 2

Pictish Woman: Hand-colored version of Theodor de Bry's engraving of a Pict woman (a member of an ancient Celtic people from Scotland). De Bry's engraving, "The True Picture of a Women Picte," was originally published as an illustration in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A...; Format: image/illustration

Their Dances Which They Use at Their High Feasts: "Their Danses VVhich They Vse att Their Hyghe Feastes." Theodor de Bry's engraving of American Indians dancing in a circle, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. Fourteen Indians are...; Format: image/illustration

Their Idol Kiwasa: "Ther Idol Kivvasa." Theodor de Bry's engraving of an American Indian wooden idol, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. The idol sits on a platform in a round structure and is visible...; Format: image/illustration

Their Manner of Carrying the Children: "Their Manner of Careynge the Childern and A Tyere of the Cheiffe Ladyes of the Towne of Dasamonquepeuc." Theodor de Bry's engraving of an American Indian woman, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of...; Format: image/illustration

Their Manner of Fishing in Virginia: "Their Manner of Fishynge in Virginia." Theodor de Bry's engraving of American Indians fishing, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the foreground, four Indians are in a canoe in...; Format: image/illustration

Their Manner of Praying with Rattles: "Their Manner of Prainge vvith Rattels abowt te Fyer." Theodor de Bry's engraving of American Indians praying around a fire, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the foreground,...; Format: image/illustration

Their Seething of Their Meat in Earthen Pots: "Their Seetheynge of Their Meate in Earthen Pottes." Theodor de Bry's engraving of two American Indians cooking over a fire, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the center of the...; Format: image/illustration

Their Sitting at Meat: "Their Sitting at Meate." Theodor de Bry's engraving of two American Indians sitting for a meal, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the center of the image, an Indian man and woman...; Format: image/illustration

Title page of A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia: The title page of Thomas Hariot's A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, published in 1588. The book was illustrated with a series of engravings by publisher Theodor de Bry.; Format: image/illustration

The Tomb of Their Werowans or Chief Lords: "The Tombe of Their Werovvans or Cheiff Lordes." Theodor de Bry's engraving of an American Indian tomb, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. The tomb is a tall building in which nine...; Format: image/illustration

The Town of Pomeiooc: "The Tovvne of Pomeiooc." Theodor de Bry's engraving of the American Indian town of Pomeiooc, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the center of the image stands Pomeiooc, which...; Format: image/illustration

The Town of Secota: "The Tovvne of Secota." Theodor de Bry's engraving of the American Indian town of Secota, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. A wide foot path extends from the center foreground of...; Format: image/illustration

The True Picture of a Man of a Nation Neighbor Unto the Pict: "The Trvve Picture of a Man of Nation Neigbour Vnto the Picte." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a member of a people neighboring the Picts in ancient Scotland. The illustration was published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the...; Format: image/illustration

The True Picture of a Woman Neighbor to the Picts: "The Trvve Picture of a VVomen Nigbour to the Pictes." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a member of a people neighboring the Picts in ancient Scotland. The illustration was published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found...; Format: image/illustration

The True Picture of a Woman Pict: "The Trvve Picture of a VVomen Picte." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a Pict woman (a member of an ancient Celtic people from Scotland), published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. The woman...; Format: image/illustration

The True Picture of a Young Daughter of the Picts: "The Trvve Picture of a Yonge Dowgter of the Pictes." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a young Pict woman (a member of an ancient Celtic people from Scotland), published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia....; Format: image/illustration

True Picture of One Pict: "The Trvve Picture of One Picte." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a Pict (a member of an ancient Celtic people from Scotland), published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. The Pict stands with...; Format: image/illustration

A Weroan or Great Lorde of Virginia: "A Weroan or Great Lorde of Virginia." Theodor de Bry's engraving of an American Indian man with a bow and arrow, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the foreground, the man is...; Format: image/illustration

A Young Gentle Woman Daughter of Secota: "A Younge Gentill Woeman Doughter of Secota." Theodor de Bry's engraving of a young American Indian woman, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the foreground, the woman is depicted...; Format: image/illustration

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Theodor de Bry

Resources created by Theodor de Bry