John White's depiction of Virginia Indians' Dance
 

John White, 1590 :
Double-Page Dance Scene from Part I of de Bry's Grand Voyages. Right-most half inch trimmed (there is just a little bit more present on right than shown). Else fine. Wide margins top and bottom. 13 x 19.5 inches. $1100.

 This is the largest, and one of the most interetsing, of all the images of America from the de Bry Voyages.

"At a certain time of year they make a great and solemn feast whereunto their neighbours of the towns adjoining repair from all parts, every man attired in the most strange fashion they can devise, having certain marks on the backs to declare of what place they be. The place where they meet is a broad plain, about the which are planted in the grounf certain posts carved with heads like the faces of nuns covered with their veils. Then, being set in order, they dance and sing, and use the strangest gestures that they can possibly devise. Three of the fairest virgins of the company are in the midst, which embracing one another, do as it were turn about in their dancing. All this is done after the sun is set for avoiding the heat. When they are weary of dancing, they go out of the circle, and others come in until their dances be ended, and then they go to make merry."