Portolan Atlas

Portolan Atlas

A beautiful example of a portolan chart atlas from the 14th century by Pietro Vesconte highlights the importance of coastal cities in the exploration of the Mediterranean basins. The intricate rhumb lines create a geometric pattern that makes it easy to pinpoint location. The coastlines of northern Africa and Spain are lovingly detailed with great precision. There is also a comprehensive list of the coastal cities one might encounter sailing around the Spanish basin of the Mediterranean, which were likely referenced by merchants traveling from port to port on trade routes. The folio pictured above depicts the Spanish coast. Other sections of the atlas include the eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

Pietro Visconte

Vienna, Österrichische Nationalbibliotek, MS 594.

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Pietro Visconte Da Genova, Carte Nautiche. Todi: ET&B, 1975.

1318

Special Collections, Carleton College, Northfield, MN.

Italian

Portolan Atlas

Rights for maps held by individual publishers and institutions. Thumbnails displayed constitute fair use.

Mediterranean Sea