Aquitaine Mercator – Southern Aquitaine, the kingdom of Arelatense with its boundaries, c. 1610

Description

This ancient map, engraved around 1610 under the name Mercator, depicts the region of Aquitaine with particular attention to the southern territories, including the kingdom of Arles and its borders. Produced at a time when cartography was rapidly evolving under the impetus of great explorers, this plate reflects the geographical and political knowledge of the Renaissance, mixing scientific precision and antique heritage. Of certain bibliophilic interest, this print offers a historical testimony of the territorial representations of southern Europe at the dawn of the 17th century, while illustrating the characteristic cartographic style of Mercator’s workshop. The condition of the sheet, noted as conforming to its age, suggests possible traces of wear or restoration, typical of ancient documents exposed to centuries of use and conservation.