Funeral Rites and Burial of Inca Nobles – 1734 Engraving of Old Peruvian Customa

About this sheet

This detailed 1734 copperplate engraving presents two dramatic scenes depicting the funeral and burial customs of the Inca elite as imagined by European artists of the Enlightenment. The work was published in the influential series Les Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde, which aimed to illustrate the religious practices of societies across the globe.

The upper panel is titled Honneurs Funèbres rendus aux Grands du Pérou après leur mort, meaning “Funeral honors paid to the great men of Peru after their death.” The image shows a richly choreographed funeral procession. A deceased noble is laid out on a ceremonial platform under a canopy, while attendants perform rites around him. Warriors and mourners engage in ritual gestures, and some figures are shown dramatically wailing or striking themselves. The setting is a lush Andean landscape, suggesting both reverence and a sense of grandeur in death. This depiction is influenced by Spanish chronicles describing the elaborate funerals of Inca rulers, which included sacrifices, offerings, and prolonged mourning periods.

The lower panel is titled Manière d’ensevelir les Grands du Pérou, or “Method of burying the great men of Peru.” Here, the scene becomes even more theatrical. Dozens of nude mourners gather around a large trench into which the deceased and his goods are being lowered. Elaborate funerary objects, possibly chicha jars, weapons, and textiles, are laid beside the corpse. Female mourners grieve dramatically, and musicians or dancers form part of the ceremonial farewell. Incan burial practices did involve placing the dead with offerings for the afterlife, and this engraving reflects a European attempt to visualize these rituals through the lens of classical solemnity and exoticism.

Though not entirely ethnographically accurate, these images reflect a genuine interest in the cultural complexity of Andean civilization and the ceremonial importance placed on death and remembrance.

Condition is good. The plate has a strong impression and detailed linework. Minor toning and edge foxing are present, with light creasing near the upper corners. The sheet remains untrimmed with full plate borders intact.

Framing suggestion: Use a tall vertical frame with a cream or light tan archival mat that separates the two panels visually. A dark wooden or black frame will enhance the tonal richness of the engraving. UV-protective glass is advised to preserve the fine detail of the 18th-century paper and ink.