Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches
From the 16th century onwards many map-makers and authors provided decorative titlepages or frontispieces at the beginning of their works. These often displayed allegorical images and symbols reflecting the books’ contents, in order to attract potential readers. This contribution looks at some notab...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Société Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of Geography
2008-12-01
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| Series: | Belgeo |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/8811 |
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| author | Rodney Shirley |
| author_facet | Rodney Shirley |
| author_sort | Rodney Shirley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | From the 16th century onwards many map-makers and authors provided decorative titlepages or frontispieces at the beginning of their works. These often displayed allegorical images and symbols reflecting the books’ contents, in order to attract potential readers. This contribution looks at some notable examples depicting images of Europe. Similar visual pictures often occur in the cartouches of maps of Europe. One mythological image frequently used was that of the rape of Europa by the god Jupiter disguised as a bull, a fable based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Other representations show Europe seated on a throne, as a superior ruler of other continents or, later, as the sponsor of the arts and the sciences. In some titlepage engravings of the 17th century she is shown defending the continent from the attacks of the Ottomans from the east. Later 19th century images may depict Europe in a more nationalistic role, flanked by each country’s armorial shield. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edbf2bb9935f46aa9602ea1fb151d89d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1377-2368 2294-9135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2008-12-01 |
| publisher | Société Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of Geography |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Belgeo |
| spelling | doaj-art-edbf2bb9935f46aa9602ea1fb151d89d2025-08-20T02:27:28ZengSociété Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of GeographyBelgeo1377-23682294-91352008-12-01334135410.4000/belgeo.8811Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouchesRodney ShirleyFrom the 16th century onwards many map-makers and authors provided decorative titlepages or frontispieces at the beginning of their works. These often displayed allegorical images and symbols reflecting the books’ contents, in order to attract potential readers. This contribution looks at some notable examples depicting images of Europe. Similar visual pictures often occur in the cartouches of maps of Europe. One mythological image frequently used was that of the rape of Europa by the god Jupiter disguised as a bull, a fable based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Other representations show Europe seated on a throne, as a superior ruler of other continents or, later, as the sponsor of the arts and the sciences. In some titlepage engravings of the 17th century she is shown defending the continent from the attacks of the Ottomans from the east. Later 19th century images may depict Europe in a more nationalistic role, flanked by each country’s armorial shield.https://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/8811EuroperapeOvidtitlepagefrontispiececartouche |
| spellingShingle | Rodney Shirley Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches Belgeo Europe rape Ovid titlepage frontispiece cartouche |
| title | Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches |
| title_full | Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches |
| title_fullStr | Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches |
| title_short | Allegorical images of Europe in some atlas titlepages, frontispieces, and map cartouches |
| title_sort | allegorical images of europe in some atlas titlepages frontispieces and map cartouches |
| topic | Europe rape Ovid titlepage frontispiece cartouche |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/8811 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rodneyshirley allegoricalimagesofeuropeinsomeatlastitlepagesfrontispiecesandmapcartouches |