A Luxury Piece of Cartographic Art

A Luxury Piece of Cartographic Art THE QUEEN MARY ATLAS. London, The Folio Society, 2005. Printed by The Cambridge University Press. This spectacular manuscript atlas is an outstanding cartographic work of the sixteenth century. Dated 1558 and signed by the Portuguese cartographer Diogo Homem (d. after 1576) and commissioned by Queen Mary of England probably as a gift for her husband, Philip II of Spain, the atlas comprises nine maps and diagrams. Diogo Homem was a member of a well-known and admired family of cartographers. Born in Portugal, he left the country in 1545 accused of murder and lived for a time in England, before settling in Venice. This atlas is an outstanding example of his cartographic and artistic skills. Dimensions: the parchment sheets of the atlas measure 58 × 80 cm. One of the most remarkable features of the atlas is its lavish decoration, with abundant flags, banners, coats of arms, and compass roses. Peoples, rulers, animals, and cities are illustrated, as are ships sailing the oceans and various sea creatures, following the fashions of the cartography of the time. It is probable that much of the embellishment was executed by Italian artists, either in England or in Italy, after Mary's death. Following the tradition of nautical charts, most of the coastlines are accurately depicted, with abundant place names all along the coast, and networks of rhumb lines crossing the maps. THE MAP COMPANY has some of the world's finest topographical and cartological masterpieces, that previously only the great libraries, museums and the few possessed. www.themapcompany.co.uk This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing