Subject: Sicily, Sardinia, & Malta
Period: 1720 (circa)
Publication: Atlas Novus Terrarum
Color: Hand Color
Size:
22.7 x 19.3 inches
57.7 x 49 cm
This decorative map depicts Sicily, Sardinia, the Maltese islands, the southern tip of Italy, and a portion of Tunisia. There are plenty of place names and good topographical detail throughout the map. An inset at bottom left shows Mount Etna erupting above a city plan of Catania. Another inset, at bottom right, zooms in on Malta's capital Valletta and is surrounded by a Maltese knight and coat of arms. Several ships and a simple compass rose fill the Mediterranean. The map is adorned with an elaborate and ornate title cartouche that features Ceres, Bacchus, Vulcan, and putti holding the coats of arms for Sicily and Sardinia.
References:
Condition: A
A sharp impression with contemporary color on a bright, watermarked sheet with a couple of insignificant spots and some minute worm holes only visible when held to light. There are archival repairs to a short centerfold separation at bottom and a couple of tiny tears along the edges of the sheet.