New World Exhibition at the British Museum

A New World: England’s first view of America
(March 15 – June 17, 2007)

This exhibition focuses on more than 70 watercolours made by John White on the voyages to Virginia (now North Carolina) in the 1580s. These images are the earliest visual record by an Englishman of the flora, fauna and people of America and provide us with an idea of how fascinating this strange New World must have been to Europeans of the late 16th century.

The exhibition also features a selection of Elizabethan portraits, maritime and scientific instruments from the period, alongside historic maps, books, prints and other exquisite objects which relate to Elizabethan navigation and capture the excitement of this golden age of exploration.

For more information, visit the exhibition announcement on the British Museum website.

[Image taken from the exhibition catalog cover; text taken from the online exhibition announcement.]