Johannes Van Loon (c. 1611 - 1686)

Dutch cartographer, engraver and mathematician active during the Dutch Golden Age of cartography. Trained in the intellectual and artistic circles of the c.17th the Dutch Republic, Van Loon emerged as a prominent figure in the production of both celestial and nautical charts. He was active in Amsterdam from 1632 until c.1680, before returning to his native Leeuwarden, where he lived until his death.

Van Loon is best known for his work as an engraver on the celestial atlas by Andreas Cellarius, published by Johannes Janssonius. This lavishly illustrated atlas, combining scientific rigor with Baroque visual grandeur, remains one of the most celebrated celestial works of the early modern period. Van Loon’s contribution, in the form of finely executed plates, reflects his mastery of both astronomical understanding and decorative engraving. In 1661, Van Loon issued his own nautical atlas, Klaer-Lichtende Noort-Ster ofte Zee Atlas, a highly regarded sea atlas that underwent several expanded editions during his lifetime, growing from 35 to 50 charts by 1676. The work demonstrates Van Loon’s commitment to practical maritime navigation, while also exemplifying the aesthetic and technical standards of Dutch atlas production at its height.

He also collaborated with a number of leading cartographers and publishers of his era, including Theunis Jacobsz, Jan Jansson, Johannes Janssonius van Waesbergen, and Robijn. His charts appeared in a variety of pilot books and composite atlases, contributing to the dissemination of Dutch maritime knowledge across Europe and beyond.