
A Modern and Complete Map of the World by the Royal Mathematician Oronce Fine of the Dauphiné
An astronomer and mathematician, from 1531 the first chair of mathematics in the Collège Royal (the present-day Collège de France), Oronce Fine (1494–1555) was one of the first French scholars to work with cartography. His world map in the shape of a heart belongs to a group of 18 heart-shaped projection maps published between 1511 and 1566.
Inspired by one of the projections described by the second-century geographer, Ptolemy, this projection system was codified by a mathematician in Nuremberg, Johannes Werner (1468–1522), in an opus written in 1514. Fine’s map reflects the state of knowledge and the geographic hypotheses and uncertainties of its day. North America is joined with Asia, and a vast Terra Australis, a hypothetical continent that geographers posited had to exist to counterbalance the weight of the northern land masses, is drawn in the south.
The map is from the collection of the geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville (1697–1782). It was purchased by King Louis XVI in 1779 and deposited in the National Library of France in 1924.
Each map is produced as a detailed museum quality archive print. This special printing process is known as Giclee (zhee-CLAY) and is commonly used to produce very high quality fine art prints. Printed on Archive Paper, Luster Photo Paper, or Matte Canvas.
Map print ships rolled up in a durable cardboard tube. Frame is not included.
Premium fine art paper that provides accurate color reproduction with high-contrast, high-resolution print output and maximum image permanence. A high-quality print ready for framing.
A premium semi-gloss photo paper with a subtle texture that produces a vivid, richly detailed print. This material results in an exquisitely detailed giclee print of substantially higher quality than a standard poster.
A canvas giclee print is mounted to wooden hanging rails placed along the top and bottom of the map. Ready to hang on the wall using the attached hanging cord. Wood rails feature a natural finish.
A high quality canvas giclee print is hand stretched over a sturdy wood frame. Printed on demand and handcrated in Seattle, WA. The canvas gallery wrap serves as a stunning piece of art ready to hang on your wall.