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| Keywords: 1852 Levasseur Map of the World - Geographicus - Planisphere-levasseur-1852.jpg A visually stunning decorative map of the world dating to 1852 by French map publisher Victor Levasseur Levasseur depicts the world on a Mercator Projection showing the six known continents as well as traces of Antarctica The cartographic style of this piece is minimalist but a few elements do bear special note These include the extension of Oregon territory well into British Columbia reflecting the American claims that later led to the 54 40' dispute Also in North America Texas is identified as an independent nation Far to the north both the Northwest Passage over America and the Northeast Passage over Europe and Asia are drawn as open and practically navigable waterways By far this map's most striking feature is its elaborate allegorical border work Levasseur composed this map for publication in his magnificent Atlas Nacionale de la France Illustree one of the most decorative and beautifully produced atlases to appear in the 19th century This particular map is surrounded by four medallions bearing allegorical representation of each season Spring in the upper left is represented by a young unclothed woman modestly covering herself with garlands Summer in the lower right is a powerful bearded man wearing an animal skin and surrounded by the bounty of life Fall upper right is a young man reaping the harvest And winter lower left is a huddled old woman in a barren snow covered setting Atop the map is an image of the firmament with shooting starts clouds and a symbolic representation of the Zodiac At center is a curious unclothed women with four breasts who appears to be chained to the earth or to a heavy box which she is holding - Pandora Adam and Eve appear to her right walking hand in hand through pre-fall Eden There too is the serpent slithering just behind the couple At the base of the map an even more interesting scene unfolds in the form of a curious panorama Here Jesus sits enthroned bearing a cross in his left hand and pointing with his right his head surrounded by a pyramid a Masonic reference To his left are a stoic crowd including Napoleon Socrates and other unidentifiable great men bearing signs reading Paix peace Liber freedom and Egalite equality Behind them is a domed building that appears to be a Greek or Roman temple Opposite this scene on Jesus' right is a very different scene showing a crowd fleeing in terror - these include a Pharisee holding the Torah and a turbaned Saracen Behind them are the pyramids of Egypt They are running towards what appears to be the jungle in the midst of which is a plinth upon which sets a bust of Satan In this we can only assume that Levasseur is attempting to convey the righteousness of reason and logic over emotion and old world superstition Publised by V Levasseur as page no 95 in the 1852 edition of his Atlas National de la France Illustree 1852 undated Size in 16 5 12 5 object history credit line accession number Planisphere-levasseur-1852 Levassuer V <i>Atlas National Illustre des 86 Departements et des Possessions de La France Divise par Arrondissements Cantons et Communea avec La Trace de Toutes Les Routes Chemins de fer et Canaux </i> 1852 edition Geographicus-source PD-old-100 Victor Levasseur - Maps of the world 1850s maps of the world 1852 maps Nudes in art Nude or partially nude chained women in art | ||||
