"Atlas Universel Dresse sur les Meilleures Cartes Modernes", Santini/Remondini

This title page is from an Italian edition of Robert de Vaugondy's beautiful atlas. It typifies the flourishing baroque and rococo style of French design and engraving that gained popularity in the latter part of the 18th century. The title is enclosed by scenes including four queens representing the continents. At lower right is Minerva who stands for Europe and wisdom. On the left are Asia with a camel and Africa holding an elephant tusk and riding a lion. America is shown as a muscular Amazon queen with a bow and quiver of arrows. The sun-god Apollo gallops across the heavens in his chariot, and a flock of adorable putti frolic around a large globe at center.

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Condition: B+

There is light soiling, minor scattered foxing, damp stains at bottom, and a couple of small archivally repaired abrasions, also at bottom.