| Summary: |
A topographical map of Asia, drawn in carte-de-figures style, with vignettes on 3 sides. The upper row contains the "bird's eye" views of the nine Asian cities. From the left to the right these are: Candia, Calcutta, Goa, Damascus, Jerusalem, Ormuz, Bantam, Aden and Macao. On two sides of the map there are 5 miniatures, which depict men and women from ten Asian regions. The field of map is decorated with the images of sea battles and monsters. The cartouche is held by two hunters dressed in fells.
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| Admin history: |
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-12 October 1638), a Dutch cartographer, was born in Alkmaar and died in Amsterdam. He studied astronomy and cartography. Between 1594 and 1596 he qualified as an instrument and globe maker and in 1599, founded one of history's greatest cartographic publishing firms. By 1608, he had already published a fine world map and a popular marine atlas. He then began planning a major atlas intended to include the most up-to-date maps of the entire world, but the atlas was not completed until well after his death. In 1633, he was appointed Hydrographer of the Dutch East India Company and established his reputation within the highly competitive field of Dutch mapmakers. In 1635, he published Atlas Novus (a comprehensive world atlas, conceived by Blaeu). When he died, the business passed to his sons, Joan and Cornelis, who continued and expanded their father's ambitious plans. After the death of Cornelis in 1644, Joan continued the business alone and established his own reputation as a great mapmaker. Joan completed his father grand project in 1655 with the sixth and final volume of the Atlas Novus. As soon as it was finished Joan began the preparation of an even larger work, the Atlas Major, which reached publication in 1662 in twelve lavish volumes. The Atlas Major was the most expensive printed book of the seventeenth century, consisting of nearly 600 double-page maps and 3,000 pages of text. The maps were richly embellished, often hand-colored and heightened with gold, and epitomized the style and quality of the period, which has become known as the 'Golden Age' of cartography. In 1672 a fire destroyed Blaeu's printing house in the Gravenstraat, and a year later Joan Blaeu died. The demise of the House of Blaeu brought an end to the Dutch domination of cartography. |
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-12 October 1638), a Dutch cartographer, was born in Alkmaar and died in Amsterdam. He studied astronomy and cartography. Between 1594 and 1596 he qualified as an instrument and globe maker and in 1599, founded one of history's greatest cartographic publishing firms. By 1608, he had already published a fine world map and a popular marine atlas. He then began planning a major atlas intended to include the most up-to-date maps of the entire world, but the atlas was not completed until well after his death. In 163 ... View more |
