Flying fish from Benzoni's account.

DE BRY, Theodore.

In Brasiliam.
Frankfurt, 1596. Image 170 x 205mm, set in text.

De Bry's interpretation of Girolamo Benzoni aboard his ship on his voyage to the New World in 1541. The image shows Benzoni on the deck of his flagship, surrounded by flying fish. Two sailing ships are in the distance, as well as a windhead, several curious sea monsters, and a representation of land (probably intended to represent the New World, since Benzoni's ship is pointed in the direction of land).
Benzoni sailed to the New World in 1541, travelling through the Caribbean, Central and South America, before returning to Spain and then on to Italy in 1556. In 1565, the first account of his travels in the New World appeared under the title 'Historia del Mondo Nuovo', which was translated into English and French over the next 30 years. Among the more lively elements of Benzoni's account of his time in the New World is his report of flying fish witnessed by the crew, after sailing west for 14 days out of the Canaries.


Stock ID : 20288