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Italy Drawn and Engraved for Dr. Playfair's Atlas, a hand-colored engraved map from 1821, was drawn by W.W. Macpherson and engraved by Cooper, under the Edinburgh publishing house Macredie, Skelly & Co. This intricate rendering of Italy is notable for its artistry and precision, capturing the geographical and topographical essence of the country during the early 19th century.
The period in which this map was created marked a significant phase in European history, characterized by post-Napoleonic transformation. Italy, at that time, was a collection of separate states and territories, and the depiction of these divisions and their relationships to the surrounding regions carries historical importance.
The craftsmanship evident in the map is emblematic of the skill and care common to hand-colored engraved maps of this period. The collaboration between Macpherson and Cooper reflects a synergy between artistic rendering and technical execution, producing a work that is both aesthetically pleasing and geographically informative. The inclusion of specific features, borders, and local details provides a snapshot of Italy as it was understood in the early 19th century.
Italy Drawn and Engraved for Dr. Playfair's Atlas serves as both a historical document and a work of art. Its creation, within the context of emerging modern cartography and a Europe in flux, offers insights into the geographical understanding, artistic trends, and academic pursuits of the time. As a representation of Italy's complex political and physical landscape, this map stands as an elegant testament to the interplay of knowledge, artistry, and craftsmanship that defined cartography in the 19th century.
