From a portolan atlas of the world as it was understood in 1544. Drawn on vellum.

Joan Oliva was one of the few women cartographers known from that period. This is one of a series of maps done in the portolan style. A portolan map used in a nautical atlas refers to an early modern European style of drawing, usually on vellum, in which complete coasts, ports and waterways were depicted together with characteristic direction lines from the thirty-two points of the compass and were divided by wind directions. They were hand-drawn, practical navigation aids prior to the days of accurate surveying and map engraving techniques. Their aim was a faithful rendering of the coastlines, while the inland areas were usually documented only superficially.

Medium : Manuscript, pen-and-ink and watercolor, on vellum

Created/Published : ca.1544

Creator : Joan Oliva, cartographer, 1580 - 1615

Housed in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress

Housed in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress

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Product #: Portolan 5