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Carolus Allard
Planisphaerium Terrestre, sive Terrarum Orbis, 1696
21 x 23 in
53 x 58 cm
53 x 58 cm
WLD3787
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Carolus Allard was an engraver, printer, artist and art dealer active in Amsterdam at the end of the 17th century. He was the son of the founder of the Allard...
Carolus Allard was an engraver, printer, artist and art dealer active in Amsterdam at the end of the 17th century. He was the son of the founder of the Allard firm, Hugo. Carolus, in turn, had two sons, one of whom, Abraham, followed him into the map trade. The Allard firm was an unusual amalgam, as they regularly used copper plates and maps originally published by earlier map makers, such as Johannes Jansson and Frederick de Wit to produce some of their maps, yet they also engraved their own collection of important new maps of many parts of the world. They are particularly renowned for two characteristics that are present in many of their maps: an aesthetic appeal which is strong even by the standards of the Dutch Golden Age of Cartography, together with expert use of original colour.
This is Allard's celebrated map of the world. Geographically, it draws on multiple sources; much of it is taken from Frederick de Wit, especially for the continents of Africa and Europe and much of Asia. The depiction of Tartary (mostly Siberia and Mongolia) together with the east coast of Asia is taken from Nicolas Witsen's wall map of the region printed in 1687. Allard does introduce one feature whose source has been impossible to trace, and that is a strange square configuration of the Caspian Sea. Much of the Americas is taken from de Wit's wall map of 1662, including the depiction of the Great Lakes; the island of California is ultimately based on Sanson's map of 1656, the orthodox source for most Dutch map makers. However, there are also several updates. Allard has taken note of Hennepin's important discoveries and maps of the Mississippi River including the latest "discoveries", erroneously putting the source several hundred miles to the west, following reports of Sieur La Salle's expedition. The North Pacific follows the belief of a large as yet unknown landmass between Asia and America named the Land of Yesso, a remnant of the purported land bridge between Asia and America supported by numerous reports from explorers such as João de Gama and Maarten de Vries. The mythical Great Southern Land has now disappeared.
Although geographically Allard's map was orthodox, drawing on past masters but with several revisions and progressions, there was one aspect of its design which was quite revolutionary. Rather than fill the borders with allegorical figures of the continents or scenes of the seasons, the elements, heavenly bodies, astrological signs or combinations of all of the above, for the first time, an eminent Dutch map maker decided to place additional scientific projections on the borders of the map. There are twelve different diagrams placed on the outer edges showing polar projections, insets of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and a diagram illustrating the theory of the horizon among several others. There are still two beautiful cartouches on the upper centre of the map, engraved to resemble tapestries but the rest of the outer edges are devoted to further scientific diagrams. This is the first great Dutch map to eschew the orthodox decorative borders and devote its full surface to scientific geography.
This change was prescient as the 18th century ushered in a far greater emphasis on science in all its forms, so much so that it became known as the Age of Enlightenment. Allard's map became highly influential with several important map makers emulating its design and the venerable Dutch firm of Jean Covens and Cornelis Mortier re-issuing it approximately thirty years after its original publishing date.
The example offered for sale is the Covens and Mortier edition with very fine original hand colour.
[Shirley 578]. [WLD3787]
This is Allard's celebrated map of the world. Geographically, it draws on multiple sources; much of it is taken from Frederick de Wit, especially for the continents of Africa and Europe and much of Asia. The depiction of Tartary (mostly Siberia and Mongolia) together with the east coast of Asia is taken from Nicolas Witsen's wall map of the region printed in 1687. Allard does introduce one feature whose source has been impossible to trace, and that is a strange square configuration of the Caspian Sea. Much of the Americas is taken from de Wit's wall map of 1662, including the depiction of the Great Lakes; the island of California is ultimately based on Sanson's map of 1656, the orthodox source for most Dutch map makers. However, there are also several updates. Allard has taken note of Hennepin's important discoveries and maps of the Mississippi River including the latest "discoveries", erroneously putting the source several hundred miles to the west, following reports of Sieur La Salle's expedition. The North Pacific follows the belief of a large as yet unknown landmass between Asia and America named the Land of Yesso, a remnant of the purported land bridge between Asia and America supported by numerous reports from explorers such as João de Gama and Maarten de Vries. The mythical Great Southern Land has now disappeared.
Although geographically Allard's map was orthodox, drawing on past masters but with several revisions and progressions, there was one aspect of its design which was quite revolutionary. Rather than fill the borders with allegorical figures of the continents or scenes of the seasons, the elements, heavenly bodies, astrological signs or combinations of all of the above, for the first time, an eminent Dutch map maker decided to place additional scientific projections on the borders of the map. There are twelve different diagrams placed on the outer edges showing polar projections, insets of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and a diagram illustrating the theory of the horizon among several others. There are still two beautiful cartouches on the upper centre of the map, engraved to resemble tapestries but the rest of the outer edges are devoted to further scientific diagrams. This is the first great Dutch map to eschew the orthodox decorative borders and devote its full surface to scientific geography.
This change was prescient as the 18th century ushered in a far greater emphasis on science in all its forms, so much so that it became known as the Age of Enlightenment. Allard's map became highly influential with several important map makers emulating its design and the venerable Dutch firm of Jean Covens and Cornelis Mortier re-issuing it approximately thirty years after its original publishing date.
The example offered for sale is the Covens and Mortier edition with very fine original hand colour.
[Shirley 578]. [WLD3787]
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