Atlas With Portolan Charts of the Old World and New World, 1580. (Portulano)

16th-century cartographic masterpieces, which reflect the period's rising demand for cartographic works that were both visually impressive and useful for practical navigation. The atlas was commissioned by the Portuguese crown and produced in Goa, western India, where Dourado spent his last years. The geographical scope of the atlas extends from South America to the Persian Empire, to China (where Canton is named), to Java and New Guinea, and to North America. The charts are remarkable for their narrative wealth. In the regions displayed, natives are portrayed wearing no clothes, with attributes thought to be typical, while busy hunting, gathering food, or carrying out other activities representative of their respective countries as portrayed in Western literary works. The conquerors, in contrast, appear on horseback, wearing hats and suits. The map of Africa contains what most likely is a pictorial allusion to the battle between the Portuguese and Moors near Ksar el-Kebir (Alcazarquivir, Morocco) in 1578. The two riders clad in characteristic costumes and carrying banners may represent the main protagonists in the battle, King Sebastião I of Portugal and Sultan Abd Al-Malik of Morocco (shown wearing a turban). The atlas was transferred from Polling Abbey (Upper Bavaria), when it was dissolved in 1803, to the Munich Court Library, which became the Bavarian State Library, where it has remained ever since.

Created by Fernando Vaz Dourado in 1580.

• Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
• "BSB Shelfmark: Cod.icon. 137"--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
• Original resource extent: 38 sheets, parchment : illustrations ; 47 x 33.5 centimeters.
• Original resource at: Bavarian State Library.
• Content in Portuguese.
• Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Map Tags

1580

Fernando Vaz Dourado

Map

Portolan Charts