The Geographer Spring 2014 | Page 19

On the Map

Agnese’s 16th Century British Isles
British Library

This map of Great
Britain and Ireland, with
the narrow join at the
Firth of Forth, is taken
from Atlas of the World
in thirty-three Maps by
Battista Agnese, 1553.
Agnese (c1500-64) was
a cartographer from the
Republic of Genoa, who
worked in the Venetian
Republic.
This is a portolan
chart, from the Italian
‘portolano’, meaning
‘related to ports’.
Portolan charts are
based on direct
observation and firsthand experience, and
have a practical purpose
for mariners. They note
only coastal locations,
omitting most internal
detail. Place names are
written at right angles
to the coast, the more
important ports in red
ink. The lines which
cover the map are lines
of constant bearing
known as rhumb lines.
These radiate from
compass roses and
allow the sailor to plot a
course from harbour to
harbour using dividers
and straight edges.
The chart is decorated
in the Catalan style
with figures of rulers
dominating. The rulers
shown appear to be
figurative and are
bearded, despite the
likelihood that this map
was published during
the reigns of the young
Mary Queen of Scots
and either the boy King
Edward VI or Mary I of
England and Ireland.

Section of Europe: Great Britain and
Ireland, from Atlas of the World in thirtythree Maps, by Battista Agnese, 1553.
Venice, Museo Correr (Art Museum),
Biblioteca (Library). © De Agostini / The
British Library Board, A2001902

The

Geographer

16-17
Spring 2014