Map of the duchy of Mantua by Jan Jansson

This refined antique colored specimen of the Duchy of Mantua map, created by Jan Janssonius, represents one of the most elegant and detailed depictions of the Mantuan territory in the 17th century. The richly ornamented decorative cartouche frames the title, while the map itself shows with great precision cities, rivers, fortifications, and communication routes. The area, at the time under the rule of the Gonzaga family, is represented with attention to political boundaries and the natural landscape, including the course of the Mincio river and the marshy areas around the city of Mantua.

Jan Jansson (1588–1664), a central figure in Dutch cartography, was active during the golden age of geographical publishing in the Netherlands. After marrying into the Hondius family, he embarked on a long career in cartographic publishing, beginning in 1616. From 1633, he collaborated with his brother-in-law Henricus Hondius on the re-edition of the famous Mercator-Hondius atlas, expanding it and transforming it into the majestic Atlas Novus and finally into the Atlas Major, one of the most ambitious publishing ventures of the seventeenth century.

After Jansson's death in Amsterdam in 1664, his publishing legacy was continued by his son-in-law Johannes van Waesbergen, and his plates were later acquired by Gerard Valck and Pieter Schenk, who continued to print and disseminate his works. The map of the Duchy of Mantua remains today a work of great cartographic fascination, appreciated for its historical value, richness of detail, and artistic quality that makes it a valuable piece for collectors and scholars.

Material of unique quality

Print on handmade Amalfi paper
Sheet size: 40 x 30 cm
Framed: 43 x 33 cm
Material: artwork printed on highly prized handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges
Frame: Light brown, made of beech wood and handmade wood paste