The Portuguese in African and Asian art.

[Alvarado]

The age of discovery started with portuguese voyages of exploration. As a result of that, Europeans came into contact with new cultures and races. It's interesting to see how natives depicted them.


Depictions of Portuguese in African art




Nigeria, Edo Peoples Court of Benin - 15th-16th cent. Portuguese Figures.





Nigeria - Benin. Edo Brass Figure of a Portuguese Soldier. 16th century.





Saltcellar, Benin kingdom. 16th century.The figures on the bowl depict Portuguese men.





Nigeria - Edo Seated Portuguese Figure. 18th century.





Portuguese captain and his black retainer.





Portugese Soldier. Edo Peoples, Benin. 16th century.





18th century Pendant of a Portuguese Horseman, Benin.





Benin Plaque Depicting a Portuguese Man Holding a Staff of Office, probably 16th Century





Brass plaque which decorated the palace of the Benin Obas, Benin City, Nigeria, 1575-1625. A depiction of Portuguese male figures of traders or officials.

[Alvarado]

THE PORTUGUESE IN JAPAN. NAMBAN ART.

[Cato]

Namban means southern barbarian in Japanese, I believe, a term they borrowed from the Chinese (the Chinese term is nanren, I believe, and they used it to refer to the Viets, Cambodians, etc.). All Europeans were barbarians to the Japanese, but they used a southerly-directed term because of the fact that Europeans always came up to Japan from the south.

[Hispania]

ineteresting