Sicilia Regnum

Dutch Golden Age map of Sicily, first issued by Jansson and this example re-issued by Valk and Schenk.

This map was first issued by Johannes Jansson in 1644, replacing the older map included in the Hondius Grand Atlas which was based on Mercator. This version is updated with a much greater emphasis on the marine aspect and tradition of the island with a set of rhumb lines as well as well as several ships, two compass roses and an illustrated cartouche and scale featuring water putti. The large figure on the lower left is most likely to be the Greek goddess Demeter, patroness of wheat, growing things and mother to Persephone, wife of Hades; both she and her daughter were strongly associated with the island. However, despite this newly introduced decorative element, geographically the map is still clearly based on the earlier Mercator Hondius map.

This issue of the map has been produced by Gerard Valk and Pieter Schenk, who acquired Jansson's plates from his heirs after their abandonment of the map trade. As is usual for the Valk and Schenk issues, the map has full original body colour but the decorations have been left black and white. Original hand colour. [IT3375]