Asie

Victor Levasseur, Asie, Atlas Universel Illustre, 1852
12.5 x 18 in (31.2 x 45 cm)

Original hand coloured map engraved by Laguillermie and illustrated by Raimond Bonheur this highly decorative map of the Asian continent surrounded by vignettes showing the different costumes of the various Asian populations. Map of Europe and Asia showing political divisions extending as far west as the British Isles.

Map is flanked on each side by three scrolls with explanatory text, "Statistique", "Explication", and "Population". To the left is an enthroned woman, perhaps depicting Hesione, the wife of Prometheus, who is commonly associated with Asia. She is holding a scepter in her right hand, a main de justice, a symbol of royal French power referring to French claims in Indochina. In the upper right quadrant of the map Adam and Eve are illustrated above the scrolls and various exotic animals including a bear, a buffalo, a rhino, a tiger, an enormous vulture, and a crocodile are depicted along the bottom of the map. Above and below the map are 10 oval vignettes of people in their traditional dress.

Victor Levasseur (1795 - 1862) was a French cartographer widely known for his distinctive decorative style. He produced numerous maps which were admired for the artistic content of the scenes and data surrounding the map and the detail of the map.

This work will be shipped unframed

NON-EXPORTABLE