Bilder Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (1697–1763) – Execution by Elephant and Other Tortures – Engraving (Circa 1746)

Beskrivning

This striking ethnographic print illustrates a dramatic scene of capital punishment and torture. The central image shows a captive being crushed by an elephant ridden by a mahout holding a spear, a brutal method of execution documented by European travelers in parts of Asia. Figures in the background appear to be subjected to other forms of punishment, meant to illustrate the varied societal customs of foreign lands. This print is  a plate from the massive travel compilation, Histoire Générale des Voyages.

Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (Abbé Prévost) was a prominent French author and historian, best known for editing the colossal, multi-volume work, Histoire Générale des Voyages (published from 1746 onward). This exhaustive encyclopedia compiled global travel narratives, covering geography, natural history, and ethnography, and served as a major source of world knowledge for the European public during the Enlightenment.

Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (Editor/Author) 

Dimensions:  Approximately 26 cm × 19 cm

Medium: Engraving

Date: Circa 1746

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.