A monumental sea chart of south-west England

HOOGHE, Romeyn de.

Carte Maritime de l'Angleterre depuis les Sorlingues jusques à Portland...
Amsterdam, Pierre Mortier, 1693. Original colour with additions, including gold highlights. Two sheets conjoined, total 600 x 950mm.

Some minor restoration.

A superb sea chart of south-west England from the Scilly Isles to Portland, with an inset detail of the Scillies and prospects of Portland, Truro and Wolf Rock (half-way between the Scilly Isles and the Lizard, and a renowned maritime hazard).

The chart appeared in one part of Mortier's 'Neptune François', titled 'Cartes Marines a l'Usage des Armées du Roy de la Grande Bretagne'. The nine charts of this section, all engraved by Romeyn de Hooghe, one of the foremost artist/etchers of the period, was described by Koeman as the 'most spectacular type of maritime cartography ever produced in 17th century Amsterdam'.
Mortier's motives in the production of this atlas was to flatter the Dutch king on the British throne since the Glorious Revolution of 1688, William III, to whom it is dedicated. The unprecedented size of the atlas and the use of artists such as de Hooghe were not cheap: Again Koeman calls it the 'most expensive sea atlas' of the period, 'intended more as a show-piece than something to be used by the pilots as sea'.

KOEMAN: vol 4. p. 423-4, M.Mor 5.
Stock ID : 22528