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Secondary sourcePainting1851

The Oath

1851

An 1851 engraving from Prescott's history of the conquest of Peru, showing Pizarro taking an oath before a cleric.

An illustration from a 19th-century history book depicting Pizarro taking an oath during the conquest.

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Black and white engraving of three men in a church-like interior. A cleric in a white vestment holds up a chalice and a host while two bearded men in period dress, one in a fur-trimmed cloak, face him. A plumed hat lies on the floor at lower left.
The Oath, illustration from Prescott's History of the Conquest of Peru, 1851.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white engraving appeared in William H. Prescott's 1851 book History of the Conquest of Peru. It shows a cleric raising a chalice and host while two bearded men in period dress, one in a fur-trimmed cloak, stand before him; a plumed hat lies on the floor.

Why it matters

Prescott's history, written three centuries after the conquest, shaped how readers pictured Pizarro and his companions. Scenes like this oath-taking illustrate how historians and illustrators dramatized moments of decision and loyalty during the conquest of the Inca Empire.

Look closer

  • What does the setting suggest about the importance of this oath?
  • Why might an illustrator include a dropped hat in the scene?
  • How might this illustration differ from what actually happened, since it was made centuries later?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Francisco Pizarro on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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