Author Monte (Monti), Urbano, 1544-1613

Date 1587
Short Title Composite: Tavola 1-60. (Map of the World) (with additional spheres and
labels in the four corners).
Publisher Manuscript
Publisher Location (Milan, Italy)
Type Composite Map
Obj Height cm 40
Obj Width cm 51
Scale 1 Varies
Note Composite map of the first ring of four sheets around the north pole, the
second ring of 8 sheets, the third ring of 12 sheets, the fourth ring of 18 sheets,
the fifth ring of 18 sheets, and the legends and diagrams in the four corners.
Reference Provenance of this copy: Sotheby's, May 12th, 1981, lot 53, sold to N.
Israel; H.P. Kraus catalog 165 Cimelia: A Catalogue of Important Illuminated and
Textual Manuscripts Published in Commemoration of the Sale of the Ludwig
Collection, January, 1983; sold to private party; 2017 sold to David Rumsey Map
Collection by Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps.
World Area World
Subject Data Visualization
Full Title (Composite map of) Tavola 1-60. (Map of the World) (with additional
spheres and labels in the four corners).
List No 10130.087
Series No 87
Publication Author Monte (Monti), Urbano, 1544-1613
Pub Date 1587
Pub Title (Manuscript Wall Map of the World)
Pub Reference Almagia, R. "Un prezioso cimelio della cartografica Itatiana: il
planisfero di Urbano Monti." La bibliofilia XLIII, 1943, pp 156-193. [The present
map unknown to Almagia.] Goss, J. (map specialist, Sothebys, cataloguer of this map
1981). "An Unusual Wall Map by Urbano Monti 1954-1613." Map Collector, June 1981,
pp 18-22. Walter, L., ed. Japan: A Cartographic Vision, 1994, Nos 16a, 16b, and 17.
Shirley, Mapping of the World, 1983. 239, 246, 247. D'Ascenzo, Annalisa, Cultura
Geografica e Cartografia in Italia fine del Cinquecento: il "Trattato Universale"
di Urbano Monte, 2012; Tooley, R.V., Dictionary of Mapmakers, pp 272-273. Read "A
Mind at Work: Urbano Monte's 60-Sheet Manuscript World Map" by Dr. Katherine
Parker, 2017, forward by Barry Ruderman, introduction by David Rumsey
https://s3.amazonaws.com/rumsey3/Monte/Urbano+Monte+Catalog.pdf
Pub Note “An important and extraordinary manuscript world map drawn up on a
north polar projection to form the largest manuscript map of the world at 9 by 9
feet. This map is one of 3 examples extant (2 manuscript, 1 printed) that form the
continuum of Urbano Monte's work on his ultimate world map. The other two examples
were studied at length by Almagia: manuscript copy S is at the Bibliotheca
Seminario Arcivisovale at Venegano near Milan is similar to this example with the
map in 60 sheets. A second example, printed copy A, is at the Bibliotheca
Ambrosiana in Milan, with the frontispiece dated 1590 and the map divided in 64
sheets making the division lines of the sheets easier to arrange. This printed
version was published in 1604 on 64 plates, and is the only printed copy known..
Two other single sheet engraved world maps by Monte in North Polar projection are
also known, published in Milan in 1603 and 1604, copies of both to be found in the
Ambrosiana; an example of the 1603 is also in the Doria atlas from the Wardington
Collection. Whilst unusual, the idea of a North Polar projection does have
precedents in cartography, notably the beautiful world map of Postel first
published in Paris in 1581, and one to be found engraved in ivory on a table top by
Gennaro Picicaro, thought to be Naples, 1597 and probably borrowing from the ideas
of Monte. The ideas for the projection can also be seen in the Contarini/Roselli
map (Venice: 1506), the Ruysch map (Rome: 1507), and the Fine in Paris in 1531. All
were attempts to capture the full extent of the world, in which much was still
unknown. Of Monte little is known, except for the examples of his maps that have
survived. He contributed to a 4 volume historical diary titled Delle cose piu
notabili successe nella citta di Milano, the 4th volume of which describes the
visit of the Japanese Embassy to Europe 1582-1590, in particular their stay in
Italy. Monte would certainly have met the party when they visited Milan in 1582,
and its presumed that the form of Japan depicted in this map stems from information
provided by the Embassy. Monte's principal fame rests with his geographical
treatise Trattato Universale descrittione et sito de tutta la terra sin qui
consociuta descritto da Urbano Monte, which accomaanies the 64 sheet manuscript map
in the Ambrosiano and would have been Libri primo and secondo to this volume;
probably a separate folio volume of text to describe and relate the history and
geography of the world. A particular point of interest is the small roundel
portrait drawn under the dedication. Having drawn a nice small roundel portrait of
himself in 1587, aged 43, he went back 2 years later to add a pasted-over portrait
of himself, aged 45, suggesting that he came back to his work after signing off in
1587 (see sheet 42). The atlas has the feel of a work in progress, particularly
because of the marginal annotations by Monte and the variety of papers used in its
composition. Also, the make up of the atlas—particularly the non-sequential
numbering of the earlier sheets, the wear to sheet 7 before binding, and the 17th
century binding and guards—suggests that although in some form of binding from the
late 16th century, it was reassembled in the present binding and form in mid or
early 17th century. The geography of this map is essentially Mercatorial, using
Mercator's world map of 1569 as the style guide. On tavola XXV, Monte claims his
sources for the map, citing geographers Piccolomini, Pliny, Ptolemy, Cortes,
Fernando Columbus, Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza, Giovanni d'Anania, various Jesuit
letters, including Marco Polo, and cartographers Mercator, Gastaldi, Olaus Magnus,
Giovio, Lopes and the brothers Zeno. Of great interest is the attempt Monte makes
to make his map not just a geographical tool but to show climate, customs, length
of day, distances within regions— in other words, to create a universal scientific
planisphere. In his dedication on tavola XL he specifies how to arrange the sheets
of the mappamondo and makes it explicit that the whole map was to be stuck on a
wooden panel 5 and a half brachia square (3.25m) so that it could be revolved
around a central pivot or pin through the north pole. Monte's wall map comes at a
time when the map mural had been gaining popularity in Italian decoration. Indeed a
treatise in 1510 by Paolo Cortese describes the appropriate decoration for a
Cardinal's room as "a learned enjoyment of a picture representing the world."
Between 1560 and 1580 four of the greatest map murals had been executed: fresco
maps in Palazzo Vechia, Florence, two in the Vatican and another in Palazzo
Farrnese in Caprarola. Almost certainly Monte had envisioned his opus as gracing
the walls of a Ducal Palace in Milan, and the engraving of the 1590 sheets to make
a printed wall map indicates that he had planned to distribute his geography to a
wider audience. A monumental map, this little known work by Monte can take its
place alongside Mercator, Waldseemueller, Gastaldi and other greats of 16th century
world mapping.” Bonhams, 2012 (corrected).
Pub List No 10130.000
Pub Type World Atlas
Pub Maps 67
Pub Height cm 42
Pub Width cm 28
Image No 10130087.jp2
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Authors Monte (Monti), Urbano, 1544-1613