Images of Indians from Spanish Florida in the XVI century: truth and lies, speculation and facts

Abstract. This article examines the history of the origin of images of Florida aborigines in works of European printing of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The biographies of the Protestant emigrant and book publisher - Theodore de Bry (other Dietrich de Bry, Johann Theodor de Bry, Theodoor de Bry и Dirk de Bry) and the French Huguenot emigrant Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues are explored. The external conditions, political background and internal personal reasons for the creation of images of Florida Indians, as well as the circumstances of their spread in Europe in the 16th century, are carefully studied.

The reasons for the deep doubts about the authenticity of the images of the Florida aborigines presented to the world back in the 16th century are clearly demonstrated. and are still in use today. The article presents comparisons of images from 16th century engravings. and scientifically based images of Florida Indians created by artists in collaboration with scientists based on archaeological excavations of the 20th and 21st centuries. and is housed in various Florida museums.

The reasons for the deep doubts about the authenticity of the images of the Florida aborigines presented to the world back in the 16th century are clearly demonstrated. and are still in use today. The article presents comparisons of images from 16th century engravings. and scientifically based images of Florida Indians created by artists in collaboration with scientists based on archaeological excavations of the 20th and 21st centuries. and is housed in various Florida museums.