Titelpagina voor: Atlas minor sive totius orbis terrarum contracta delineata, 168X

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

**Title Page for *Atlas Minor sive Totiuss Orbis Terrarum Contracta Delineata*** *Gerard de Lse, etching, 1687–1696, 404 × 258 mm* This elegant etching by Gerard de Lairesse serves as the title page for *Atlas Minor*, a compact world atlas capturing the known globe in concise maps during the Dutch Golden Age. De Lairesse, a leading Dutch artist of the late 17th century, blended classical French influences with Baroque exuberance in his designs. Trained as a painter, he excelled in printmaking, creating intricate illustrations for books that elevated scholarly works into visual treasures. Etching allowed de Lairesse to achieve fine lines and rich tonal effects on copper plates, ideal for reproducing detailed allegorical scenes often adorning atlas frontispieces—symbolizing exploration, geography, and the era's cartographic fervor. Produced amid Europe's Age of Discovery, such title pages celebrated expanding knowledge, from Dutch maritime prowess to global mapping innovations. The generous dimensions (over 40 cm tall) suggest it was designed for display in grand libraries. Bearing a collector's mark (Lugt 240), this print reflects centuries of appreciation among connoisseurs, underscoring its enduring appeal as both art and historical artifact. Visitors, imagine flipping open this atlas to embark on a 17th-century voyage! (198 words)

About the Artist

Gerard de Lairesse · 1641–1711

Gerard de Lairesse (1641–1711) was a leading figure of the Dutch Golden Age, renowned as both a painter and art theorist whose classical ideals bridged the dramatic realism of Rembrandt with the refined elegance of French academism. Born on September 11, 1641, in Liège, he was the second son of the painter Renier de Lairesse (1597–1667). De Lairesse received his initial training under his father b...