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Scenes from the Barbary coast of Africa, 1820
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Scenes from the Barbary coast of Africa, 1820
Barbary corsair pirates boarding a ship 1, audience with the Emperor of Morocco 2, and Christian enslaved persons harnessed to a wagon 3. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Rev. Isaac Taylors Scenes in Africa for the Amusement and Instruction of Little Tarry-at-Home Travelers, Harris and Son, London, 1820
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Media ID 23391500
© Florilegius
1820 Amusement Azores Barbary Bonaparte Canary Christopher Columbus Helena Instruction Isaac Longwood Napoleon Prison Tarry Taylor
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This handcoloured copperplate engraving, titled 'Scenes in Africa' from Rev. Isaac Taylor's publication for 'Little Tarry-at-Home Travelers,' published by Harris and Son in London in 1820, offers a glimpse into the Barbary Coast of Africa during the early 19th century. The first scene depicts Barbary corsair pirates boarding a European ship, a common occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea during this period. The pirates, dressed in traditional Tunisian attire, are shown in the act of taking possession of the vessel, with the terrified crew and passengers looking on. The second scene shows an audience with the Emperor of Morocco. The European visitors, dressed in their finest attire, are shown paying their respects to the Emperor, who sits regally on his throne, surrounded by his courtiers. This scene reflects the complex diplomatic relationships between European powers and the Barbary States during this time. The third and most harrowing scene depicts Christian enslaved persons harnessed to a wagon. The enslaved persons, who are shown with despair etched on their faces, are being transported to the markets of Tripoli or other Barbary cities, where they would be sold into slavery. This tragic scene serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of piracy and the transatlantic slave trade. The background of the engraving features various birds, possibly representing the Azores or Canary Islands, as well as the islands of St. Helena and Longwood, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled from 1815 to 1821. The inclusion of these islands may have been intended to provide context and scale to the African scenes depicted in the engraving. This engraving offers a fascinating insight into the complex and often violent history of European-African relations during the early 19th century, and serves as a reminder of the human cost of piracy and the transatlantic slave trade.
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