![]() Appearing with but 53 maps in its first edition, Ortelius' work expanded with new maps added regularly. A handful of other maps preceded the 1570 publication of the first edition of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, which would prove to be his life work. His first published geographic work appeared in 1564, an eight-sheet cordiform world map. He accompanied Mercator on journeys throughout France in 1560 and it was at this time, under Mercator's influence, that he appears to have chosen his career as a scientific geographer. He began trading in books, prints, and maps, traveling regularly to the Frankfurt book and print fair, where in 1554 he met Mercator. In 1547 he entered the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke as an illuminator of maps. His connections with Spain - culminating in his 1575 appointment as Royal Cartographer to King Phillip II of Spain - gave him unmatched access to Spanish geographical knowledge during a crucial period of the Age of Discovery. Along with Gerard Mercator and Gemma Frisius, he was a founder of the Netherlandish school of cartography. He was the creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and is a seminal figure in the history of cartography. Separate examples of the map are well represented in institutional collections, and it appears on the market from time to time, although attractive original color examples are less easy to find.Ībraham Ortelius (ApJune 28, 1598) also known as Ortels, was a cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer of Brabant, active in Antwerp. The typography of the verso text conforms to the 1598 French edition of the atlas. It remained, unchanged, in the Ortelius atlas through the rest of its run. Publication History and CensusThis map was engraved for inclusion in Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1584 to replace and correct his 1570 map. Her fluttering tunic floated in the breeze. Fear filled her heart as, gazing back, she saw A scantily-clad Europa sits a chaste sidesaddle upon the back of the insatiable Zeus, in the guise of a bull galloping into the sea. With the plinth-styled cartouche, the classicist Ortelius alludes to Ovid's description of Zeus' seduction of Europa, the continent's namesake. A Tartar encampment threatens Moscovia's borders, and an attractive galleon sails the Atlantic. ![]() An Attractive EngravingOrtelius' map is an elegant composition, incorporating an understated compass rose in the upper right. This resulted in the apparent distortion visible here of the Iberian Peninsula, but avoided the drastic exaggeration in size of the northern regions on Mercator's map. In execution, the two differ most sharply in Ortelius' decision not to use Mercator's famous projection. But overall, his main source was the 1554 map of Europe produced by his friend and colleague, Gerard Mercator. Details of Russia come from the 1562 Jenkinson map. His treatment of Scandinavia drew on the 1539 Olaus Magnus map. The two are most easily distinguished by the calligraphic 'Africae Pars' labeling north Africa here (the first plate used Roman capitals instead.) SourcesOrtelius credited a broad array of sources for his data, including Apianus, Vopell, Waldseemüller and Zell among others. ![]() This is the second, 1584 plate of the map, notable for its superior engraving, and multiple corrections. This is a beautiful, original color example of Abraham Ortelius' general map of Europe. Minnesota - North Dakota - South Dakota.Massachusetts - Connecticut - Rhode Island. ![]()
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