Hiberniæ Regni in Ultoniam, Connacham, Lageniam, M…

Rare first state (1690) of Carel Allard’s separately issued map of Ireland, one of the most striking maps of its time, with two richly decorated and symbolic cartouches. No altas consisting of Allard maps alone is extant, although they are sometimes found separately issued or included in other mapmakers composite atlases. As a consequence many of Allard maps are often misdated. One means of ascertaining a publication date is the appearance of his ‘privilege’ granted by the States General on October 1683 which allowed legal protection and exclusive rights to publish his own maps and prints.

This first state is identified by the lines of text at lower left indicating Carel Allard’s privilege: op den Dam, met Privilegie yande Edele Groot Mogende Heeren Staten van Holland en Wesvriesland, without the engravers name, “S. Scherm” (1695) or Covens and Mortier (1730) which appear in later editions.

At top left a sumptous Baroque title panel has the Royal Coat of Arms and mythological scene depicing, the twelfth and final labour of Heracles, in which he descends into the underworld to seize Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of Hades. Heracles stands at the centre, unmistakable with his lion skin headdress and club, symbolic of his earlier conquest over the Nemean Lion. Having slain Cerberus and beneath Heracles’ feet lies the severed head of Medusa, her serpent hair still writhing. To the left, the figure of Theseus, whom Heracles is said to have rescued from Hades, reaches out imploringly. The backdrop of craggy rock and dark recesses evokes the shadowed depths of the underworld. At lower right is another elaborate cartouche depicting the Muses with a harp, the Greek goddess Demeter, who is associated with agriculture, harvest, and grain, holding a sheaf of wheat while at lower left is the Roman god Neptune, holding a trident in his left hand with a large fish at his feet, spouting water.