One of the most famous and recognizable illustrated index pages, from a large Mortier Atlas.
Four elaborate allegorical scenes are shown, including Atlas holdng the World aloft and an illustration of a woman beside a celestial globe, with pointer and compass, along with two winged gods in the heavens. At the bottom, a finely engraved library scene is shown, including a large globe, atlas and map.
Pierre, or Pieter, Mortier (1661-1711) was a Dutch engraver, son of a French refugee. He was born in Leiden. In 1690 he was granted a privilege to publish French maps in Dutch lands. In 1693 he released the first and accompanying volume of the Neptune Francois. The third followed in 1700. His son, Cornelis (1699-1783), would partner with Johannes Covens I, creating one of the most important map publishing companies of the eighteenth century.