Forlani Map of South America

FORLANI, Paolo (fl. 1560-1571).
[South America] La Descrittione Di Tutto II Peru.
Engraved map. Venice: Paulo de Forlani da Verona, 1562.
21 x 15 7/8" sheet, 30 1/2" x 25" framed.

THE FIRST LARGE-SCALE DELINEATION OF SOUTH AMERICA TO APPEAR IN PRINT The two leading cartographic figures in the Lafreri school were undoubtedly Giacomo Gastaldi (ca.1500-1566), arguably the greatest cartographer of the period, and Paolo Forlani (fl. 1560-1571), the leading engraver/mapmaker of the day, with a great artistic sensibility, both of whom worked in Venice. Forlani, was responsible for some of the most beautiful and visually appealing maps of his time, the most important and impressive of which is undoubtedly his "La descrittione di tutto il Perv", the first largescale delineation of South America to appear in print and the only Lafreri school map of South America. A landmark in the mapping of South America, this is the largest and most detailed delineation of that continent npublished to date, the map also includes nmost of the West Indies and the southern extremity of Florida, a large Tierra del Fuego, and all the Caribbean islands.