Estense World Map

Estense Library, Modena




Date: c. 1450.
Size: ± 113 cm diameter.
First and only circular mappa mundi by the Catalan-Majorcan school.
Protective case.
Commentary volume (218 p.) by Ernesto Milano (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena), Joan Veny (Universidad de Barcelona) and Annalisa Battini (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena).
Unique and unrepeatable first edition, strictly limited to 987 numbered and authenticated copies.


moleiro.com-MC-4c7f57e4dd9c4.jpg

Date: c. 1450.
Size: ± 113 cm diameter.
First and only circular mappa mundi by the Catalan-Majorcan school.
Protective case.
Commentary volume (218 p.) by Ernesto Milano (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena), Joan Veny (Universidad de Barcelona) and Annalisa Battini (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena).
Unique and unrepeatable first edition, strictly limited to 987 numbered and authenticated copies.


Pictures

Estense World Map
Estense Library, Modena



Commentary volume

Commentary volume

Estense World Map Estense Library, Modena


Format: 305 x 568 mm
Pages: 216
Ilustrations: 289
Language: Spanish and Catalan
ISBN: 978-84-88526-22-9

CONTENTS:

Vicisitudes históricas y fortuna iconográfica

Exploraciones geográficas, teorías cosmográficas y cartografía desde los orígenes hasta mediados del siglo XV

Cartografía italiana y catalana desde mediados del siglo XIV hasta mediados del siglo XV

El Mapamundi Catalán

Descripción externa

El Mapamundi Catalán

Descripción cartográfica

Conclusiones
Ernesto Milano (Director de la Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena)

Asedio dialectológico a la lengua
Joan Veny (catedrático emérito de la Universidad de Barcelona)

Transcripción del texto original
Annalisa Battini (Bibliotecaria de la Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena)


Estense World Map Estense Library, Modena


Descripcion

Description

Estense World Map

Estense Library, Modena


In the 14th century the Catalonia-Valencia-Majorca region was a flourishing centre of trade and culture where Arab and Jewish elements blended with Christian culture. Countless maps by this cartographic school have survived including the Estense World Map featuring characteristics typical of portulans – rhumb lines, and flags and coats of arms to identify kingdoms and cities – but this map was obviously not made as a navigation aid. It can be considered to be a paradigm of the artist’s technique, logical extensions of his vision extending beyond the Mediterranean to the frontiers of the known world. The anonymous artist of the Estense World Map combined details from literature of certain regions of the world with empirical facts about the Mediterranean area, the zone he knew best. As a result, details from the tales of Marco Polo, known centuries before, can be seen in the descriptive outline of China, with details about the recent Portuguese explorations of Cape Verde, circumnavigated for the first time in 1444 by Dias too. Religion is also present in this map, not only due to the circular shape but also because of the drawing of Paradise, depicted in eastern Africa and not in Asia as was usual.

The most curious geographic characteristic is the shape of Africa. On the edge of the Gulf of Guinea, a river or strait connects the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans and an enormous land mass emerges to complete the base of the map. No place name is given and it is not clear whether it is considered to be part of Africa or another continent. Stylistically speaking, the most noteworthy characteristic of the Catalan school is the series of portraits of the lords of the desert in their tents, some of whom are actual sultans and others legendary figures. These are the earliest European maps to acknowledge and record the presence of Islamic power in the Mediterranean.

This map is of interest because of its uncertain and eclectic identity. Circular in shape, with different religious and legendary motifs along with certain Arab influences, it retains the rigor of portulans. It has no titles, dedications or notes offering any clue to its intended use. Such a highly complex map implies several unknown factors as regards the level of realism aimed at by the artist. But to what extent did his contemporaries really believe what they saw in his drawings? It is, for example, inconceivable that professional seafarers believed the large, even expanse of land to actually exist in the south of Africa. Or that the scientists of New Humanism believed that kings with dogs’ faces did exist. Or that theologians could accept that Paradise, which ceased to appear in Asia following Marco Polo’s travels, could be relocated to Ethiopia. It is difficult to imagine that they believed that the laws of God and nature ceased to apply beyond the frontiers of Europe and that anything was possible there. It is more logical to think that this map depicts different levels of representation.



Estense World Map

Estense World Map Estense Library, Modena
Estense Library, Modena

Description

In the 14th century the Catalonia-Valencia-Majorca region was a flourishing centre of trade and culture where Arab and Jewish elements blended with Christian culture. Countless maps by this cartographic school have survived including the Estense World Map featuring characteristics typical of portulans – rhumb lines, and flags and coats of arms to identify kingdoms and cities – but this map was obviously not made as a navigation aid. It can be considered to be a paradigm of the artist’s technique, logical extensions of his vision extending beyond the Mediterranean to the frontiers of the known world. The anonymous artist of the Estense World Map combined details from literature of certain regions of the world with empirical facts about the Mediterranean area, the zone he knew best. As a result, details from the tales of Marco Polo, known centuries before, can be seen in the descriptive outline of China, with details about the recent Portuguese explorations of Cape Verde, circumnavigated for the first time in 1444 by Dias too. Religion is also present in this map, not only due to the circular shape but also because of the drawing of Paradise, depicted in eastern Africa and not in Asia as was usual.

The most curious geographic characteristic is the shape of Africa. On the edge of the Gulf of Guinea, a river or strait connects the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans and an enormous land mass emerges to complete the base of the map. No place name is given and it is not clear whether it is considered to be part of Africa or another continent. Stylistically speaking, the most noteworthy characteristic of the Catalan school is the series of portraits of the lords of the desert in their tents, some of whom are actual sultans and others legendary figures. These are the earliest European maps to acknowledge and record the presence of Islamic power in the Mediterranean.

This map is of interest because of its uncertain and eclectic identity. Circular in shape, with different religious and legendary motifs along with certain Arab influences, it retains the rigor of portulans. It has no titles, dedications or notes offering any clue to its intended use. Such a highly complex map implies several unknown factors as regards the level of realism aimed at by the artist. But to what extent did his contemporaries really believe what they saw in his drawings? It is, for example, inconceivable that professional seafarers believed the large, even expanse of land to actually exist in the south of Africa. Or that the scientists of New Humanism believed that kings with dogs’ faces did exist. Or that theologians could accept that Paradise, which ceased to appear in Asia following Marco Polo’s travels, could be relocated to Ethiopia. It is difficult to imagine that they believed that the laws of God and nature ceased to apply beyond the frontiers of Europe and that anything was possible there. It is more logical to think that this map depicts different levels of representation.

commentary volume

Estense World Map Estense Library, Modena

Format: 305 x 568 mm
Pages: 216
Ilustrations: 289
Language: Spanish and Catalan
ISBN: 978-84-88526-22-9

CONTENTS:

Vicisitudes históricas y fortuna iconográfica

Exploraciones geográficas, teorías cosmográficas y cartografía desde los orígenes hasta mediados del siglo XV

Cartografía italiana y catalana desde mediados del siglo XIV hasta mediados del siglo XV

El Mapamundi Catalán

Descripción externa

El Mapamundi Catalán

Descripción cartográfica

Conclusiones
Ernesto Milano (Director de la Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena)

Asedio dialectológico a la lengua
Joan Veny (catedrático emérito de la Universidad de Barcelona)

Transcripción del texto original
Annalisa Battini (Bibliotecaria de la Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena)

Pictures

Details

Date: c. 1450.
Size: ± 113 cm diameter.
First and only circular mappa mundi by the Catalan-Majorcan school.
Protective case.
Commentary volume (218 p.) by Ernesto Milano (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena), Joan Veny (Universidad de Barcelona) and Annalisa Battini (Biblioteca Estense Universitaria de Módena).
Unique and unrepeatable first edition, strictly limited to 987 numbered and authenticated copies.

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