Artist / Author / Cartographer:
Wright, Benjamin
Title:
South East Asia - Banda Islands
Date:
1611
Medium:
copper engraving
Size:
8.5 x 12.5 cms.
Description:
A delightful miniature map of Banda. The islands were famous for nutmeg, one of the most highly desirable spices in Europe in the seventeenth century. The reverse is engraved with a map of the island of Amboina.
Benjamin Wright was a skilled engraver who unfortunately had a reputation described as “irregular in life and given to drink”.
In 1611 Johannes Pontanus published a history of Amsterdam, Rerum et Urbis Amstelodamensium Historia which was illustrated with eight miniature maps and views engraved by the Englishman, Benjamin Wright. Originally from Helsinki, Johannes Pontanus moved to Holland where he became a professor of mathematics, geography and history at Harderwyk.
References:
King p.81
Item Code:
MA3102
attachment:
