The Flemish printing family of Blaeu were mainly involved in the printing of geographic books, nautical maps and atlases. These works were much sought after, particularly their collections of maritime maps, together with descriptions of the coastlines and the accounts of their voyages, destined mainly for use by navigators, all of which greatly contributed to the fortunes of the Blaeu family. The founder of the family was Willem Janszoon, who was also known as Guillaume Jansonius Caesii, and later as Blaeu. He was born in Alkmaar, Holland in 1571 and died in Amsterdam in 1638. The son of a herring merchant (herring traders were entitled to titles of nobility in Holland at the time), he was related to Hooft, famous writer and Burgermeester of Amsterdam. As a young man, Willem was a very keen student of mathematics and astronomy.
In 1594 he left for Denmark, where he stayed for about two years with the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe at his observatory in Uraniemgurg, on the island of Hveen, learning the fundamentals of cosmography and geography, and the construction and use of astronomical instruments. He later returned to his own country in about 1597, where he opened a shop for mathematical and astronomical instruments, distinguishing himself as a producer of globes and, later, as a cartographer and writer.
On his death, his sons Cornelius and Jan continued the business and followed in his footsteps. Of the two, Jan was better known as a typographer and also as a famous lawyer. He was born in Amsterdam in 1596 and died there in 1673. He was head of the company business from 1638 when he was appointed the official cartographer for the Dutch East India Company. He had a series of important works printed, among them the fourth part of the Zeespiegel in 1646, a large Planisphere in 1648 and a Theatrum Italiae in 1662.
The Blaeu printing works are, however, especially well known for the publication, in 1669, of four large mural maps representing Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. They were exquisitely made and exceptionally beautiful, and are distinguished by the richness of the scrolls and the detail in their engraving. Each map is approximately 1,70 by 1,20 metres and was produced using the same techniques and style, giving a unique theme to the collection. At each side of the map there are eight engravings, representing sixteen people from the local population illustrated on the map. The Southern section contains twelve views of cities and places of the region depicted and, finally, the outside of the frame has a geographic description of the depicted continent in both French and Latin. There are human and fauna figures interspersed between the geographic details covering the continents which lends a certain liveliness to the planimetry. The expanses of the oceans have repeated the usual themes of marine gods, bizarre fish and adventurous vessels. All of this comes together as an eloquent decorative whole, transforming these four maps into true masterpieces of both historic and artistic significance.
In order to produce the Four Continents, we have adhered to the same techniques employed by the Blaeus: very finely engraved copper plates and the use of an old manual printing press. The paper onto which the image is transferred is 100% pure cotton and is sourced from an old paper mill that has been operating since the time when these masterpieces first saw the light of day. As with the originals, these large mural maps have been mounted onto a 100% linen canvas, making use of an extremely delicate and complicated process of ageing, using exclusively organic substances. The final procedure of colouring by water colours is carried out by masters in this art who take into account the centuries that have passed in the composition and shading of the colours, and succeed in further highlighting the beauty of these maps.
These large mural maps, which have been the subject of much study in this field, are without a doubt one of the most spectacular examples of cartographic representation of their era. Four of these re-creations, corresponding to the four continents, have become part of the cartographic collection of the Italian government thereby recognising their importance and contribution to the cartographic art.
