Arx Principi Guiljelmi. (Brazil)

• Price: $375.00
  

  SKU: 33487

• PRINT INQUIRE
  SHARE

• ARTIST: John Ogilby

• MEDIUM: Copper plate engraving

  DATE: 1671

• EDITION SIZE: 10 7/8 x 13 3/4" (277 x 349 mm) plus wide margins.

• DESCRIPTION: In the late 1630’s Holland attempted to reassert its claim over Brazil by establishing a series of forts along the coastline. One of the best-documented colonies was the expedition led by Prince Maurits of Nassau, who attempted to assemble an intellectual court in the New World. He brought with him a group of highly accomplished artists, mapmakers, and scientists to record the mysteries of Brazil. They included the celebrated painter Frans Post, and the astronomer George Markgraf, who produced the first serious study of the southern sky. Post painted a wealth of images of the Brazilian landscape and the surrounding vegetation and wildlife. His works are some of the earliest European paintings of Brazil and were eagerly reproduced in print by Dutch engravers. This impressive view depicts Prince William Fort near the Afogados River. As is shown in the engraving, Prince William was a square fort, which stood on a low plateau near the banks of the river. It had four bulwarks, strong palisades, and a high wooden wall. The church that is pictured in the middle of the fort was the tallest structure in the camp, and could be seen all the way from Olinda. Prince William was a small outpost housing only 263 men and few slaves.This view appeared in John Ogilby’s seminal atlas "America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World, published in London in 1671. Ogilby’s work is an English translation of Arnoldus Montanus’ Die Nieuwe en onbekende Weereld...", which was produced in Amsterdam earlier the same year. Considered the first encyclopedias of the Americas, both texts are richly illustrated with maps, views and portraits. With little exception, Ogilby’s work is a direct copy of Montanus’ atlas. Ogilby did expand his atlas by adding fresh material on the English colonies. Illustrated with over 122 magnificent engravings, Ogilby’s America was the most accurate compendium available of the New World.

• ADDITIONAL INFO:

• CONDITION: Good condition, save for some minor spotting in upper margins. Very soft creases through upper corners of image.

• REFERENCE:

• CATEGORIES: Maps