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4. Jean Frédéric Bernard and Bernard Picart, The ceremonies and religious customs of the idolatrous nations. (London, 1735)
A Chinese funeral procession is depicted in this engraving from 1729 by Picart. The accompanying text describes how:
The Relations and Friends ... together with the Priests, form the Funeral Procession, which is attended with the Images or Pictures of Men, Women, Elephants, Tygers etc. all destined to be burnt, for the Benefit of the Party deceased… The Children of the Deceased march directly after the Corpse ... ’tis accompanied with the soft Sound of Tymbals, the solemn Beat of Drums, the melancholy Airs of Flutes, and other instrumental Music.
Both Bernard and Picart were French Protestants exiles who found refuge in the tolerant atmosphere of Amsterdam. Ceremonies and religious customs was notable for its respectful approach to all religions.
Citation:
4. Jean Frédéric Bernard and Bernard Picart, The ceremonies and religious customs of the idolatrous nations. (London, 1735),
Marsh's Library Exhibits,
accessed December 6, 2025,
https://www.marshlibrary.ie/digi/items/show/558
