This is a sixteenth-century engraving by the Dutch artist Pieter Nagel. It shows an allegorical figure of America surrounded by symbols of colonial wealth and trade.
A central female figure sits on a cart loaded with gold and silver coins. She holds a bow and arrow. Two large, dog-like creatures pull the cart. In the background, European ships arrive along a coast.
A Latin inscription at the bottom reads 'AMERICA AVRO ET ARGENTO MEOS REPLEO,' which translates to 'America, I fill my people with gold and silver.' The foreground figures are sharply detailed, while the landscape and ships are drawn more schematically.
- Artist
- Pieter Nagel
- Period
- Late sixteenth century
- Style
- Northern Mannerist printmaking
- Technique
- Engraving with hatching and cross-hatching
- Subject
- Allegorical personification of America with gold and silver coins, a cart, and European ships
- Inscription
- AMERICA AVRO ET ARGENTO MEOS REPLEO