1631 Italia Nuovamente piu perfetta che mai per inanzi posta in luce...
DESCRIPTION
This is one of the most visually elaborate and highly decorative atlas maps of Italy produced in the early 17th century, issued by the Hondius–Janssonius firm during the height of Dutch cartographic production. Derived from the Mercator atlas tradition, it represents a mature synthesis of geographic refinement and the richly embellished style that defined the finest Dutch atlases of the period.
From a geographic standpoint, the map presents the Italian peninsula in full, extending from the Alpine frontier southward through the Kingdom of Naples and into Sicily, with Corsica and Sardinia prominently shown to the west. The Adriatic coast is carefully rendered, including the Dalmatian shoreline and parts of western Albania, reflecting the broader Venetian and Mediterranean sphere of influence. Regional divisions are clearly delineated, with major cities such as Rome, Venice, Florence, and Naples identified, and a dense network of rivers, mountain ranges, and fortified towns conveying both the political fragmentation and strategic complexity of early 17th century Italy.
The decorative elements, while secondary to the geography, are among the most engaging of the period. Sailing ships and sea creatures animate the surrounding waters, including a striking depiction of an embracing mermaid and merman in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The title cartouche is flanked by allegorical figures, and just below it appears the foundational myth of Rome, Romulus and Remus shown suckling their adoptive she-wolf, a motif repeated again in profile medallions beside the distance scale.
Widely regarded as one of the most ornate atlas maps of Italy, this engraving stands at the intersection of cartographic precision and Baroque visual culture, making it both a highly informative geographic document and one of the most decorative representations of the peninsula to appear in a commercial atlas.
CONDITION
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