1539/1990s Carta Marina — Scandinavia and the Northern Seas,
DESCRIPTION
One of the most extraordinary achievements of Renaissance cartography, Olaus Magnus's Carta Marina presents Scandinavia and the surrounding northern seas as a fascinating world of geography, mythology, and maritime adventure.
Originally published in Venice in 1539, the monumental map depicts Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and neighboring regions, surrounded by waters inhabited by enormous sea serpents, whales, fantastic monsters, and sailing vessels. Across the landscape, intricate illustrations portray reindeer, bears, hunters, fishermen, settlements, and scenes of everyday life, creating a remarkable visual record of northern Europe as it was understood nearly five centuries ago.
Olaus Magnus and the Mysteries of the Northern World
The map was created by Olaus Magnus, a Swedish Catholic cleric who spent much of his later life in exile following the Protestant Reformation in his homeland. Drawing upon his travels throughout Scandinavia, historical accounts, and information gathered from sailors and local inhabitants, Magnus sought to introduce southern European audiences to a region whose geography and customs remained relatively unfamiliar. His original nine-sheet woodcut was among the most ambitious cartographic undertakings of the sixteenth century. Particularly fascinating are the fantastic creatures inhabiting the surrounding seas, many inspired by sailors' accounts, unfamiliar marine animals, and Scandinavian folklore. Scholars have also explored their possible religious and political symbolism, suggesting that the imagery conveyed messages beyond the dangers of northern navigation.
A Celebrated Masterpiece of Renaissance Cartography
This colorful reproduction, published by Kartbutiken of Stockholm, preserves the elaborate design of Magnus's original Carta Marina, including its decorative borders, Latin inscriptions, heraldic shields, sailing ships, and extraordinary assortment of marine creatures. With only two original impressions of the 1539 map known to survive, reproductions such as this offer an opportunity to appreciate one of the most imaginative and influential maps of the Renaissance, whose remarkable combination of geography, natural history, and mythology continues to captivate viewers nearly five centuries later.
CONDITION
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