Nova Totius Europae Tabula

Nova Totius Europae Tabula

This highly detailed map first appeared in the second edition of the Speculum Orbis Terarrum, published in 1593. It beautifully and accurately depicts Europe and bordering regions in addition to several mythical islands in the Atlantic like S. Brandain, Bresil, and Frislandt. It was the creation of Gerard de Jode (1509–91), a Dutch cartographer, engraver, and publisher working in Antwerp, and his son Cornelis de Jode (1568–1600). The map includes a charming detail: a large inset with 20 figures wearing various kinds of folk costume representing various European peoples. The atlas in which this map was first featured never achieved commercial success in the lifetime of its creator because it was overshadowed by the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius (1527–98), also known as the Ortelius Atlas. Nonetheless, it is a stunning testimonial to the golden age of Dutch cartography. The Latin inscription at the top of the map states that it was dedicated to the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (1545–1617), an important figure of the Counter Reformation.

Master Cartographers

Gerard De Jode was one of the finest cartographers of the late–16th century, a time when the Dutch dominated the map trade. He was a prolific map-maker, but the original 1578 publication of his Speculum Orbis Terarrum was overshadowed by the success of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. In fact, Gerard de Jode purchased one of these atlases while already working on his own cartographic work. Although widely admired among cartographers, Jode’s work was unsuccessfully commercially and the second edition from 1593 did little better. After Gerard’s death, his son and wife continued to run his workshop, but Cornelis unfortunately died early at the age of 32 and the workshop’s stock and plates were bought by the publisher Joan Baptista Vrients. Nonetheless, the map of Europe begun by him and finished by his son masterfully depicts both political boundaries and topographical features such as mountains and rivers.