Willem Janszoon Blaeu, 1571-1638 : $b a sketch of his life and work, with an especial reference to his large world map of 1605, facsimile of the unique copy belonging to the Hispanic society of AmericaStevenson, Edward Luther
History
Willem Janszoon Blaeu, 1571-1638 : $b a sketch of his life and work, with an especial reference to his large world map of 1605, facsimile of the unique copy belonging to the Hispanic society of America
Stevenson, Edward Luther
Blaeu, Willem Janszoon, 1571-1638; Early maps
it seems to me the larger the number, the better it will be. Forests,
buildings, etc., may be but roughly marked. If you will give the size
and exact location, I will take care that the emblematical figures are
properly represented”; and he adds that “in order to make sure that
the completed work is well done, I shall let you correct the plates
one at a time.” Somewhat later Blaeu writes again that “I shall give
especial attention to the engraving of the plates, printing lightly
from them at first, in order that changes may be made before the final
engraving is done.... Take as much time as you may need, and in case
you are unable to finish them during the summer, you may also have
the winter.” June 24, 1634, he writes to Schickard: “I have published
the first part of my Atlas, containing one hundred and sixty maps,
with descriptive text in German, translated from Latin. In the Fall I
shall publish the Latin, French and Dutch texts,” these titles being,
respectively, “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,” but dated 1635; “Le théâtre du
monde ou nouvel atlas,” but issued in 1634; “Toonneel des Aerdrycx,”
1634. The arrangement and number of maps in the several issues do not
agree, but in the main features they are the same. The “Toonneel” may
be considered an enlargement of his “Appendix” done in practically the
same manner, but with the addition of numerous details, and ornamented
with additional illustrations. That he borrowed from the “Nieuwen
Atlas” of Joannes Janssonius and Henricus Hondius becomes evident in a
comparison of the descriptions of “Germany,” the “Netherlands,” and of
certain other parts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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