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This map of Ireland, created by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli in the late 17th century, stands as one of the period's most decorative maps of Ireland published in the late 17th Century, executed by one of the 17th Century's most important mapmakers.
The map features detailed cartographic information alongside elaborate artistic embellishments that highlight the map's dual function as both a tool for navigation and a work of art. Coronelli's map provides a comprehensive depiction of Ireland, detailing its cities, towns, and geographical features with remarkable accuracy for the period.
The map is notably adorned with two ornate cartouches and coats of arms that enhance its aesthetic appeal. The title cartouche is beautifully crafted, featuring an Irish coat of arms and lavish display of flags, weapons and a crown, symbolizing Ireland's historical battles and military strength.
The dedication cartouche at the lower right bears the arms of Giovanni Alberto Badoer (1649 – 1714), a Venetian Catholic cardinal who served as Patriarch of Venice and Bishop of Brescia.
A text note at the right reference Dublin, detailing its status as the capital and its historical and economic significance. The text, written in Italian, provides context for the city's role as a central hub in Ireland, mentioning its architectural landmarks and strategic importance.
Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718) was one of the most influential Italian mapmakers and was known especially for his globes and atlases. The son of a tailor, Vincenzo was apprenticed to a xylographer (a wood block engraver) at a young age. At fifteen he became a novice in a Franciscan monastery. At sixteen he published his first book, the first of 140 publications he would write in his lifetime. The order recognized his intellectual ability and saw him educated in Venice and Rome. He earned a doctorate in theology, but also studied astronomy. By the late 1670s, he was working on geography and was commissioned to create a set of globes for the Duke of Parma. These globes were five feet in diameter. The Parma globes led to Coronelli being named theologian to the Duke and receiving a bigger commission, this one from Louis XIV of France. Coronelli moved to Paris for two years to construct the King’s huge globes, which are 12.5 feet in diameter and weigh 2 tons.
The globes for the French King led to a craze for Coronelli’s work and he traveled Europe making globes for the ultra-elite. By 1705, he had returned to Venice. There, he founded the first geographical society, the Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti and was named Cosmographer of the Republic of Venice. He died in 1718.
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