Portrait of Mercator with globe and compass
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Portrait of Mercator with globe and compass
Title page illustration from Theatrum Geographiae Veteris, an early large-scale world Atlas by Pertius Bertius, printed in Amsterdam 1618-19 showing the great cartographer Mercator Date: 1618
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Media ID 14397520
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Harry Price
1618 Amsterdam Atlas Cartographer Mercator Scale Theatrum Title
EDITORS COMMENTS
This title page illustration is taken from Theatrum Geographiae Veteris, an early and influential large-scale world atlas published in Amsterdam between 1618 and 1619. The image features the renowned Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594), depicted in a grand portrait as he gazes intently at a beautifully crafted terrestrial globe and a compass. The atlas, produced by the Dutch publisher Pertius Bertius, showcases Mercator's groundbreaking cartographic achievements, including his famous world map with its intricate and detailed representation of the New World. Mercator's influence on cartography is immeasurable. He is best known for his 1569 wall map, which introduced the concept of a uniform projection, allowing the representation of lines of constant course, or rhumb lines, on a flat map for the first time. This innovation revolutionized navigation and maritime exploration. The image of Mercator, surrounded by the tools of his trade, symbolizes the connection between cartography and the spirit of discovery that characterized the early modern period. The Theatrum Geographiae Veteris was a significant contribution to the field of cartography, featuring the most up-to-date geographical knowledge available at the time. The atlas's richly decorated title page, with its elegant typography and intricate ornamentation, reflects the importance of cartography as a scholarly pursuit and the prestige it held in the intellectual world of the 17th century.
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