Antique Map of Italy by Homann Heirs (c.1745)

Description: Antique map titled 'Italia Benedictina Delineata A.P.R.C.P.W.' Unusual Benedictine map of Italy, showing the various states of the church, with an elaborate cartouche. Part of a series of Benedictine maps issued by the Homann Heirs which are quite scarce on the market. The pictorial vignette shows 3 Benedictine Monks. Published circa 1745.

Artists and Engravers: Following the long period of Dutch domination, the Homann family became the most important map publishers in Germany in the eighteenth century, the business being founded by J.B. Homann in Nuremberg about the year 1702. Soon after publishing his first atlas in 1707 he became a member of the Berlin academy of Sciences and in 1715 he was appointed Geographer to the Emperor. After the founder's death in 1724, the firm was continued under the direction of his son until 1730 and was then bequeathed to his heirs on the condition that it trades under the name of Homann Heirs. The firm remained in being until the next century and had a wide influence on map publishing in Germany. Apart from the atlases the firm published a very large number of individual maps. The Homanns produced a Neuer Atlas in 1714, a Grosser Atlas in 1737, and an Atlas Maior with about 300 maps in 1780. They also issued a special Atlas of Germany with full sized plans of principal cities, school atlases and an Atlas of Silesia in 1750 with 20 maps.