About this sheet
An original antique hand-coloured copperplate engraving titled "The Clemency of Mayta Capac", illustrating an episode from the history of the Inca Empire. The print was engraved for Giulio Ferrario's celebrated work Il Costume Antico e Moderno and published in Milan around 1821.
The composition depicts Mayta Capac, traditionally regarded as the fourth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, seated beneath a ceremonial canopy while receiving the submission of the conquered chiefs of Ccayaviri (also rendered Cayaviri or Caillaviri). According to the historical account, the defeated leaders present themselves before the emperor together with their families, expecting punishment. Instead, Mayta Capac extends mercy and grants them clemency, an act that symbolises both justice and magnanimity in Inca tradition.
The richly coloured scene is filled with ceremonial costumes, feathered headdresses, weapons and architectural details that reflect the nineteenth-century European fascination with the history of the Inca civilisation. In the distance, an Andean fortress rises above the landscape, reinforcing the historical setting of the Peruvian highlands.
Giulio Ferrario (1767–1847) was one of Italy's foremost historians and publishers. His monumental publication Il Costume Antico e Moderno documented the costumes, customs and history of cultures throughout the world and remains one of the finest illustrated ethnographic works of the nineteenth century.
The delicate original hand colouring enhances the vivid ceremonial robes and architectural details, making this both a historically important engraving and an attractive decorative work.
This is an original antique engraving printed in the early nineteenth century. It is not a modern reproduction.
Maker: Giulio Ferrario
Publication: Il Costume Antico e Moderno
Title: The Clemency of Mayta Capac
Place of publication: Milan
Date: circa 1821
Technique: Copperplate engraving with original hand colouring
Origin: Italy
Condition:
Good condition considering its age. Original hand colouring. General age-related toning, occasional light foxing and minor handling wear. A few small wormholes in the left margin. Please study the image carefully.
The framed and interior visuals are provided for imagination and presentation purposes only. The original antique print is sold unframed.
Keywords:
Peru, Inca, Mayta Capac, Mayta Cápac, Sapa Inca, Inca Empire, Ccayaviri, Cayaviri, Collao, Inca history, Giulio Ferrario, Il Costume Antico e Moderno, Milan, Italy, original antique print, hand-coloured engraving, copperplate engraving, nineteenth century, 1821, South America, Latin America, ethnographic print, historical engraving, Indigenous Peru, decorative print, colonial history.
