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1673 Man headed bear ape after Ogilby
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1673 Man headed bear ape after Ogilby
Papio and man-headed beast. Published in Amsterdam in 1673 by Jacob Von Meurs for Arnoldus Montanus " De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld" after the first book related to America by Ogilby. This is from the German edition titled " Die Unbekante Neue welt, oder Beschruebung des Welt-teils Amerika". The images are confusing on many levels. The Papio parion 1 seems based on Topsells Papio, which looked even more like a baboon than this image, but was described as a hyaena (this mistake goes back to Gessner 1551). Neither hyaena or baboon are found in South America of course. The man faced Papio 2 may be based on earlier representations of a tethered three toed sloth (a true South American) for similar see Topsells " bear-ape arctopithecus". Few authors or engravers in the 16th-17th century had direct experience with the exotic animals they described. As yet zoology was barely a science
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6318221
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
17th Century Cryptozoology Exploration Explorers Fantastic Fantasy Gesner Gessner Human Ancestor Human Origins Monsters Mythology Natural History New World South America Strange Topsell Montanus Ogilby Wierd
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This intriguing print from 1673 showcases a captivating blend of mythology, fantasy, and natural history. Published in Amsterdam by Jacob Von Meurs for Arnoldus Montanus' "De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld" it stems from the first book related to America by Ogilby. Titled "Die Unbekante Neue welt, oder Beschruebung des Welt-teils Amerika" in its German edition, this image raises many perplexing questions. The artwork itself is puzzling on multiple levels. The first depiction, Papio parion 1, appears to be inspired by Topsell's Papio but erroneously described as a hyena (a mistake dating back to Gessner's work in 1551). However, neither hyenas nor baboons are native to South America. Conversely, the second portrayal features a man-headed Papio that may have been influenced by earlier representations of a tethered three-toed sloth—a true South American creature—such as Topsell's "bear-ape arctopithecus". During the 16th and 17th centuries when these images were created, few authors or engravers had direct encounters with the exotic animals they depicted. Zoology was still in its infancy as a scientific discipline at that time. This print offers us an intriguing glimpse into the world of exploration during the 17th century and highlights how artists and explorers alike grappled with understanding unfamiliar creatures and their origins. It merges elements of fantastic storytelling with attempts at documenting new discoveries—an intersection where art meets science.
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