The Holy Land at the Time of Jesus: A 17th Century Dutch Map by Visscher

Description

This detailed Dutch map entitled "Het Beloofe de Landt Canaan door wandelt van onsen Salichmaecker Iesu Christo, nessens syne Apostelen" … more This detailed Dutch map entitled "Het Beloofe de Landt Canaan door wandelt van onsen Salichmaecker Iesu Christo, nessens syne Apostelen" by Nicolaes Visscher was published in Amsterdam in 1663. The map depicts the Holy Land from the Mediterranean Sea to just beyond the Jordan River as it appeared at the time of Jesus. It has an orientation to the west with north to the right and presents details of the cities, towns, rivers, roads, and holy sites associated with the Apostles. The elaborate title cartouche is encircled on three sides by religious figures, which are in turn flanked by two engraved vignettes of New Testament scenes depicting the life of Jesus and a fishermen in each lower corner. Cherubs hold cartouches in the form of banners in the each upper corner. Seven ships sail the Mediterranean (Groote Zee) in the upper portions of the map. Three of these ships trace the voyage of the Apostle Paul.

The map is presented in an ornate brown wood frame embellished by gold-colored leaves and gold inner trim with a double mat; the outer mat is cream-colored and the inner mat is black. There is a central fold, as issued. There is some text offset from the text on the verso and scattered areas of focal discoloration. The map is otherwise in excellent condition. less