Willem Blaeu - Asia noviter delineata - c.1650

Amongst the most beautifully designed and long-lasting of Dutch cartes à figures of the 17th Century were the set of four Continent maps initially... more

by Vintage Map

Title

Willem Blaeu - Asia noviter delineata - c.1650

Artist

Vintage Map

Medium

Digital Art - Printed Map

Description

Amongst the most beautifully designed and long-lasting of Dutch "cartes à figures" of the 17th Century were the set of four Continent maps initially engraved by Dutch mapmaker Willem Janz. Blaeu [1571-1638] in Amsterdam in 1617 and first issued in Atlas format in 1630. The maps remained a constant feature of all subsequent Blaeu Atlases, including those of Willem Blaeu's son Johannes, through to the 1660s. The map incorporates nine roundel city and town views along the top border with attractive paired figures of the indigenous inhabitants of the different regions and countries of the Asian Continent down each side border. On the map itself, much focus is given to the islands of South East Asia & East Indies, the immensely profitable domain of the recently established Dutch East India Company (VOC), with whom the Blaeu family worked closely throughout the 17th Century. Interestingly Japan remains modelled on the 1595 Ortelius outline of the islands with Korea depicted as an elongated island. The waters of the Indian & Pacific Oceans are embellished with wonderful vignettes of European galleons and water-spouting sea monsters.

Uploaded

March 3rd, 2021