- Title: Orbis Vetus
- Author: Robert de Vaugondy
- Date: 1752
- Condition: See description
- Inches: 28 x 18 3/4 [Image]
- Centimeters: 71.12 x 47.62 [Image]
- Product ID: 308277
A remarkable double hemisphere world map synthesizing 18th-century cartographic conventions with ancient geographical knowledge and mythological motifs
This beautifully engraved map from the Atlas Universel presents a unique cosmographical conception, dividing the world into ten regions named after the sons of Neptune, though the precise symbolic significance of this mythological schema remains obscure.
The Western Hemisphere is designated as "Atlantis Insula," while the northwest coast of North America is conspicuously left blank, awaiting the explorations of Cook and others to complete the coastline and interior. In the Eastern Hemisphere, the explored portions of Australia's coastline are depicted, with conjectured landmasses indicated by dotted lines, reflecting the era's speculative cartography. The map is adorned with quotations from ancient authors, primarily referencing the legendary Atlantis, and features two large, allegorical cartouches between the hemispheres. The upper cartouche, which contains the map's title, is decorated with emblematic figures including Father Time and two putti, embodying the map's intersection of classical and Enlightenment-era aesthetics. These decorative elements exemplify the cartographic artistry of the period, which often incorporated mythological and allegorical elements to embellish geographical representations.
This unique synthesis of historical cartography and mythological elements offers a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual milieu of 18th-century Europe, where classical learning and modern scientific pursuits coexisted in productive tension. The map's focus on the "Old World" while incorporating parts of the New World, its use of ancient place names, and its conjectural geography make it a significant artifact that bridges classical and Enlightenment-era understandings of world geography. It serves as a testament to the evolving nature of geographical knowledge and the enduring influence of classical mythology on scientific pursuits of the 18th century, inviting critical reflection on the interplay between tradition and innovation in the history of cartography.
The Latin text in the lower cartouche translates to: MONITUM: "Lest anyone be surprised, if he sees in this map of the whole world the island of Atlantis facing our America, we have considered that he should be advised that we have done this deliberately, since in the past not only the more celebrated geographers have restored this to antiquity, but also the most learned men have thought that this island once existed."
A "Monitum" is a warning issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to an errant cleric, who is in danger of receiving an additional penalty. In this case, it advises the reader that the depiction of the island of Atlantis facing the Americas on this map is intentional, as many renowned geographers and scholars of the past have believed that Atlantis was a real place.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is a department of the Roman Curia in charge of the religious discipline of the Catholic Church. The Dicastery is the oldest among the departments of the Roman Curia. Its seat is the Palace of the Holy Office in Rome. It was founded to defend the Catholic Church from heresy and is the body responsible for promulgating and defending Catholic doctrine.
Background on Creator
Didier Robert de Vaugondy (c. 1723-1786) was an 18th-century French geographer and cartographer who, along with his father Gilles Robert de Vaugondy, was a leading figure in the mapmaking industry in Paris during this period. Didier came from a family of cartographers, as his father Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) was a mathematics professor and mapmaker who had inherited a share of the Nicolas Sanson family's cartographic material. Together, Gilles and Didier worked collaboratively on maps and globes, with Gilles often signing as "M. Robert" and Didier commonly using "Robert de Vaugondy" or adding "fils" (son) to his name.
In 1757, the family Vaugondy published the influential Atlas Universel, integrating older sources with more modern surveyed maps and verifying latitudes and longitudes with astronomical observations. Didier was later appointed geographer to King Louis XV in 1760. Didier Robert de Vaugondy's maps and globes were known for their artistic engraving style and attention to detail. He employed a complicated process of gluing copperplate-printed gores onto a plaster-finished papier-mâché core to create globes of various sizes. As a prominent cartographer of his era, Didier Robert de Vaugondy made significant contributions to the field, including serving as a royal censor for works related to geography, navigation and travel. His maps and those produced with his father continue to be valuable resources for studying 18th-century cartography.
Condition
A crisp impression with contemporary outline color in the map itself and later color in the cartouche. Small birdhouse watermark and a printer's crease at bottom center. Light toning along the centerfold and edges of the sheet. Excellent.
References
Rumsey 11962.001. Tooley’s Dictionary