D'eau et de sang

Le Nouveau Monde au XVIe siècle à travers l'Isolario de Benedetto Bordone

Abstract

Benedetto Bordone, a 16th-century Italian cartographer and navigator, embodies the captivating charm of the history of cartography and navigation. Among his most renowned works is the Isolario (or The Book of Islands), first published in Venice in 1528. This collection of maps meticulously depicts the known islands of the time. Serving as a valuable guide for navigators and a remarkable geographical document, it is filled with detailed information on these wondrous islands, including their ports, climate, flora, and fauna, effectively making these mysterious lands accessible not only to readers but also to future explorers. Although today Bordone is primarily studied for his innovative use of polar projection in his maps, replacing the older Ptolemaic projection, the attention his work deserves as an inspiration for readers and navigators fascinated by unknown lands is surprisingly overlooked. This aspect becomes even more significant when considering the Isolario and its in-depth exploration of the islands of the New World.