Giacomo Gastaldi
![Gastaldi's world map (1548), showing North America and Asia as one continent.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Weltkarte-ptolemaeus-ausgabe-1548_1-1200x890.jpg)
According to the author Philip Burden, Gastaldi's 1548 edition of Ptolemy's ''Geography'', "was the most comprehensive atlas produced between Martin Waldseemüller's ''Geographia'' of 1513, and the Abraham Ortelius ''Theatrum'' of 1570," because it included regional maps of the Americas. Yet Gastaldi's detailed attention to the new world was not his only contribution to the development of map production. The Ptolemy edition of 1548 was also an innovation in that Gastaldi and his publisher reduced the size of the volume, thereby making the first 'pocket' atlas. Finally, Gastaldi's work also indicated a shift in cartographical technique via its use of the copper engraving. Prior to this period, most maps had been printed from woodcuts; by using a copper plate rather than a woodblock to print, the engraver could render a much higher level of finesse and detail.
Gastaldi was described by one contemporary as the 'most excellent Piedmontese cosmographer'. As a cartographer, Gastaldi worked for various publishers, such as Nicolo Bascarini and Giovanbattista Pedrezano. But he also occasionally accepted private commissions, for example, that from Venice's Council of Ten, who invited him to fresco maps of Asia and Africa on the walls of a room in the Doge's Palace.
Among his other works is the Asiae Nova Descriptio, engraved in copper in 1574. Provided by Wikipedia
-
1
-
2by Ptolemy, Claudius, Gastaldi, Giacomo, Mattioli, Pietro Andrea, 1500-1577, Pedrezano, GiovanbattistaGet access
Published 1548
Get access
Map -
3by Ptolemy, Claudius, Gastaldi, Giacomo, Mattioli, Pietro Andrea, 1500-1577, Pedrezano, GiovanbattistaGet access
Published 1548
Get access
Map -
4by Anghiera, Pietro Martire d', 1457-1526., Jugge, Richard, approximately 1514-1577, printer., Gastaldi, Giacomo, ca. 1500-ca. 1565. Debate and stryfe betweene the Spanyards and Portugales., Münster, Sebastian, 1489-1552., Pigafetta, Antonio, approximately 1480-approximately 1534. Primo viaggio intorno al globo terraqueo. English, Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, Gonzalo, 1478-1557. De la natural hystoria de las Indias. English., Willes, Richard, active 1558-1573, ed., Eden, Richard, 1521?-1576, ed.Get access
Published 1577
Text -
5by Nordenskiöld, Adolf Erik (kirjoittaja.)Contributors: “...Gastaldi, Giacomo (kartantekijä.) (Descriptione de la Moscovia per Giacomo Gastaldo piamo n tese,)...”
Published 1882
Get access
Book