Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, Et Vita.
14 x 18 inches. Fine hand color; fine condition.
"'The Wanderings of Abraham' is among the most elaborate of Ortelius's compositions. It demonstrates his combined skills as a cartographer and an artist, and his accomplishment as an historian" (Nebenzahl). Twenty-two fine medallions, each containing in miniature a key episode in the life of Abraham, surround the map. The map itself attempts to be geographically faithful to the time of Abraham, having tribal names and territorial divisions as they were in his life time; for example, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are shown.
In tromp l’oeil style, the engraving presents the map itself as a wall map complete with rollers and nails. Unlike most maps in Ortelius’ atlas, this and other depicting classical and ancient geography were composed by Ortelius himself, which is so indicated on this work. Classical and Biblical geography was a great personal interest of the great map compiler.
* Nebenzahl, K. Maps of the Holy Land, no. 34; Laor, E. Maps of the Holy Land, no. 547; Van den Broeck, M. Ortelius Atlas Maps no. 183.
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