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A magnificent allegorical map of the Seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries, encompassing present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of northern France and western Germany, engraved and published by Nicolaus Visscher II, a leading figure of the late Dutch Golden Age of cartography.
The map is richly detailed, delineating provincial boundaries, cities, fortified towns, rivers, and regions in vibrant color, all rendered with exceptional precision. The baroque embellishments—including a grand title cartouche with mythological figures, fleets of ships in the North Sea, and heraldic emblems—evoke both the classical world and the martial history of the Dutch Republic.
Notably, the map bears a formal Latin dedication to Theodorus Munter, a senator and magistrate of Amsterdam, honored here as “Senatori prudentissimo, scabino iustissimo, colonello vigilantissimo, nec non liberalium artium Maecenati”—“most prudent senator, most just magistrate, most vigilant colonel, and a patron of the liberal arts.” This dedication reflects the map’s dual role as both geographic document and civic tribute, offered in the tradition of Amsterdam’s republican elite, where public service and the advancement of knowledge were deeply intertwined.
Munter's name, arms, and honors appear in a cartouche at the left, beneath an allegorical display of classical figures and coats of arms. The map’s dedication formula—Hanc Tabulam D.D.D. (Dat, Dicat, Dedicat)—was a standard Latin expression used in presenting such works to patrons.
Issued at a time when the Dutch Republic remained a hub of print culture, cartographic science, and commercial influence, this map embodies the artistic grandeur and political pride of the era. It is among the most visually compelling representations of the Low Countries to appear in the late 17th century.
Nicolaas Visscher II (1649-1702) was a prominent Dutch cartographer and publisher during the late 17th century. He was the grandson of Claes Janszoon Visscher and the son of Nicolaes Visscher I, both of whom were also renowned cartographers in their own right. After his father's death in 1679, Nicolaas Visscher II took over the family's map publishing business.
In 1680, he married Elizabeth Verseyl from Gouda, and in 1682, he obtained a new privilege from the States of Holland and West Friesland to protect his maps and publications from being copied. Visscher II continued the family tradition of producing high-quality maps, atlases, and globes, often with elaborate and decorative elements. He maintained the Visscher family's reputation for accuracy and craftsmanship in the competitive world of Dutch cartography until his death in 1702. After his death, his widow, Elizabeth, and later his son, also named Nicolaas, continued the business until around 1726.
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