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Introduction

In 1585, John White traveled to what is now North Carolina as part of Walter Raleigh's effort to establish an English colony. While there, White executed a number of drawings of the local Indian population. His drawings, however, were not widely circulated in England. Instead, many English saw a set of etchings by Theodor DeBry based on White's drawings. In his work, DeBry depicted Native Americans as far more European, similar to Greek or Roman statues, than White had ever drawn them. Such depictions circulated among English men and women, including the backers of the Virginia Company, around 1600.

Questions to Consider

• How would you describe DeBry's depiction of Native Americans?

• How do DeBry's Native Americans compare to Barbot's Africans?

Documents

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Source:
Top: Theodore DeBry, "A younge gentill woeman doughter of Secota," 1590. Engraved by G. Veen, 5-7/8 x 8-3/8 in., based on watercolor by John White. Providence, John Carter Brown Library at Brown University. Downloaded on Virtual Jamestown, http://www.virtualjamestown.org. Bottom: Theodore DeBry, "A weroan or great Lorde of Virginia," 1590. Engraved by G. Veen, 5-7/8 x 8-3/8 in., based on watercolor by John White. Providence, John Carter Brown Library at Brown University. Downloaded on Virtual Jamestown, http://www.virtualjamestown.org.

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