Figures qui Representent les Faux Cultes des Lapons

“Figures Representing the False Cults of the Laplanders” – Title translation

This trio of views depicts religious practices and sacred objects of the indigenous Sami people; a group that has historically inhabited the northern reaches of Scandinavia. Known to Europeans as Lapps or Laplanders (from the region in which they live – an offensive term today), the reindeer plays a critical role in their culture and semi-nomadic livelihood.

The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720 but was re-printed in several subsequent editions until the late 1730s. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The content’s breadth offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. The descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.