Object Details
Object Essay
Besides settling some Caribbean islands, the Dutch made two major efforts to establish colonies in the New World during the 17th century—in Brazil and in New Amsterdam. The life span of both colonies was short, but the Dutch influence in present-day New York’s Hudson Valley was profound and lasting. This map, printed in Amsterdam, records the area around that wealthy colony, with an orientation to the west. Lake Champlain is the only large lake shown in the area, and it is inaccurately depicted, as is a seemingly endless and stylized upper Saint Lawrence River. As would be expected, the areas adjacent to the navigable waters are most accurately represented, although Long Island is crossed twice by fictitious rivers.
Despite such mistakes, this map gives much accurate information. As a document to encourage colonization, it was a complete success. It shows wild game in abundance, with minute engraved figures of bears, deer, foxes, turkeys, egrets, cranes, and rabbits, “the first beavers and polecats, as well as an otter with a fish in its mouth.”1George, 94–98. Such genre elements were compatible with the best Dutch art of the times. As ethnological information, there are pictures of two Indian villages, two canoes, and two idealized figures flanking the title cartouche. They join the ornamental calligraphy, two compass roses, and delightful putti supporting the scale of miles to contribute to an exquisite map from the Blaeu family of cartographers.
Donald H. Cresswell
Excerpted from Clement E. Conger, et al. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991.