Catalog Archive
Auction 178, Lot 436

Elaborate Map of the Holy Land, Illustrating the Life of Abraham

"Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita", Ortelius, Abraham

Subject: Holy Land

Period: 1586 (dated)

Publication: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.3 x 14 inches
46.5 x 35.6 cm
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Ortelius designed, and probably also engraved, this beautiful Holy Land map. It details the wanderings and life of the Patriarch Abraham. The map is displayed as though on a banner hung on a wall; it shows Palestine and a portion of Egypt, inset with a small map of the Middle East from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates River. The imaginative design includes an elaborately engraved frame containing twenty-two scenes illustrating the life of Abraham, spanning his departure from Ur to his death. This is from the second plate, used from 1590-1624, with the hachuring within the medallion border running from upper left to lower right. Latin text on verso, published in 1590.

References: Laor #547; Van den Broecke #183.

Condition: B

Three large chips, almost entirely confined to the margins, have been replaced with old paper with a narrow section of neatline at bottom right in facsimile. There are large damp stains mostly at left and right which are not significantly noticeable on recto.

Estimate: $1,400 - $1,700

Sold for: $800

Closed on 6/10/2020

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