Envisioning the World: The First Printed Maps 1472-1700
Oct 2, 2009 - Jan 17, 2010
Envisioning the World focuses on an adventure of the mind. The exhibition delves into the journey to understanding the world, its true size and shape, as well as its place in the system of heavenly bodies.
At the core of this exhibition are thirty maps that originated in the major centers of post-Renaissance Europe and are now in the private collection of Henry and Holly Wendt.
The Museum exhibited another collection of maps belonging to the Wendts in 2004 in the exhibition Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark. While that exhibition focused on the exploits of explorers, Envisioning the World focuses on an adventure of the mind. It takes the viewer from simple "T and O" maps that fused medieval Christian thought with sources dating back to the ancient Greeks, all the way to highly complex charts that display an advanced understanding of the world and the motions of the heavenly bodies.
Following the intellectual thread of western culture, it is a story that touches on ancient Greek scholars, famous astronomers such as Copernicus, the navigators of the great age of exploration and the interplay between the growth of scientific thought and the power of the church. The maps themselves are also great works of art, reflecting rapid improvement in printing and engraving techniques. Envisioning the World is a journey not to be missed.
In connection with this exhibit, SCM created a limited edition bottling Bordeaux-style blend featuring the art of Nicolaas J. Visscher.
