Four Continents, America: Full view of center panel and 16 outer panels

Full view of center panel and 16 outer panels ; This painting is an encyclopedic compendium of exotic objects from the New World. This is one of four paintings by Kessel to describe the continents. The central scene, surrounded by 16 smaller depictions of a variety of animals, takes place in a room that might be defined as a wunderkammer (wonder cabinet). However, instead of the traditional grouping of things on shelves or in cases, here the room itself becomes a site for indigenous peoples and animals to display themselves.