Johann Baptist Homann, Status Ecclesiastici Magnique Ducatas Florentini, 1716

Map of Central Italy Highlighting the Papal States and the Duchy of Florence

Homann’s beautiful and richly colored map presents a fascinating picture of the extent of Roman and Florentine holdings in the early eighteenth century. A large title cartouche bears a papal figure with insignia and cherubs.

This large and colorful map represents the height of the cartographic work of Johann Baptist Homann (1664–1724), one of the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. When Johann Baptist Homann began his business as a cartographer in 1702, he founded a dynasty that was to last into the nineteenth century. Following the long period of Dutch domination, the Homann family became the most important map publishers in Germany. After the founder’s death in 1724, the firm continued under the direction of his son until 1730 and was then bequeathed to his heirs on the condition that it trade under the name of Homann Heirs. Maps with this imprint continued to exert a wide influence on map publishing in Germany.

In 1715, Johann Baptist Homann became a member the Prussian Academy of Sciences and was appointed Imperial Geographer of the Holy Roman Empire. The following year, Homann published what is considered to be his masterpiece, the Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World, 1716), and dedicated the work to Charles VI, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The present map was produced for the first edition of Homann’s Grand Atas, and exhibits all the hallmarks of his style—expert engraving, exceptional detail, a highly embellished allegorical title cartouche, and rich color—making it a sumptuous example of mapmaking from the Baroque period.

Refs.: LeGear, 5966 (1716 edition); Phillips, Atlases, 586 (later edition).