CHINA-Convoi funebre d’un grand de…

C.18th engraving of a funeral procession of a prominent Chinese. Children walk with banners at the front, behind them various statues of the gods are carried, musicians and acrobats walk and fireworks are set off. Then men carry the coffin with the deceased. Behind the coffin comes the family of the deceased. Some women are carried in litters.

From Denis Diderot’s, Encyclopaedia which was a monument in the history of European thought, undermining the ancien regime and heralding the French Revolution. It was a permanent source for all aspects of eighteenth century knowledge. It was edited by the brilliant Denis Diderot (1713-1784).

Provenance: Wigan Public Library (stamp)

References: Printing and the Mind of Man 200.