Portolan chart by Salvat de Pilestrina

Portolan Chart by Salvat de Pilestrina

Silvat de Pilestrina (1502–33), whose name was changed by the Italians to Salvatore de Pilestrina, was a Spanish cartographer from the famous Majorcan school, which enjoyed its heyday in the 14th century but nonetheless produced true masterpieces of cartography over the following centuries. Renowned workshops and cartographers with great names like Creques, Olives, and et al. worked in Mallorca or came from there. Active on the Balearic islands at the beginning of the 16th century, Salvat de Pilestrina soon made a name for himself as one of the primary figures of 16th century Majorcan cartography.

From Spain to Africa via Italy

The portolan chart by Salvat Pilestrina in the Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo is an impressive testimonial of his art. Originating in 1533, it is a gorgeous map of the central and western Mediterranean to the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. With its impressive measurements of 54 x 36 cm, it was both outstandingly suitable as a nautical aid as well as a great masterpiece of tremendous artistic and historic value.

The Artistic Design

A Marian motif is affixed above the cartographic depiction – or at its western end: the depiction of the Madonna with child as the guardian of seafarers. Artful vignettes of the most important sea ports like Genoa and Venice illustrate the brightly designed maps, which are furnished some colorful wind roses both large and small. There are numerous small labels closely strung together along the coasts and colorful escutcheons from various lands that denote the allegiance of certain regions.