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Manuscript nautical chart on a single sheet of vellum (960 × 610 mm), centered on the Mediterranean basin. A visually striking portolan chart of the Mediterranean, North Africa and parts of the Middle East, fabulously decorated, and preserved in beautiful condition, stylistically undoubtedly Portuguese and likely made by prominent chart maker Luis Texeira (who in turn was father to Joao Teixeira Albernaz I, also a famed chart maker). To Luis Texeira is owed the map of Japan included in Ortelius s "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", a natural chart to be made by a Portuguese, due to strong Portuguese presence in the region, and also the Magna Orbis large wall map of the world. - As usual for portolans made in the Iberian Peninsula (at the time the Crowns of Portugal and Spain were united), the chart is profusely decorated and embellished. - Stylistically, the coastlines are drawn in reddish ink; smaller islands are fully painted in gold, blue, red, or green, while major islands are outlined in green. No rivers are shown. Toponyms are written in red and black ink, numbering over 800 coastal place names. Seven town vignettes are included, among them Lisbon (topped by the Portuguese flag), Jerusalem (marked with the Cross of Golgotha), and Venice (with the Lion of Saint Mark). The decorative programme is enriched by 13 heraldic arms and flags of kingdoms: Ireland, Scotland, England, the fleur-de-lys of France, the arms of Spain, probably the flag of Genoese Gazaria over Crimea (denoting the Sanjak of Caffa), and the banner of the Portuguese Order of Christ positioned over Ceuta. Particularly noteworthy is the imperial double-headed eagle over Tunis: if this refers to actual Habsburg occupation rather than a retrospective tribute, it would suggest a dating prior to 1574, when the city was retaken by Ottoman forces (it had been under Christian control since 1534). Additional decorations include a Christus Patiens, two Portuguese carracks sailing the Atlantic, and a group of palm trees with rocks in the Sahara. There are eight wind roses, two of which prominently display a fleur-de-lys at the north point. A latitude scale runs along the extreme left border, marked from the 20th to the 60th parallel; three scale bars are present, two framed in decorative cartouches. - Overall, this is a highly accomplished portolan chart, executed in the Iberian style, which is characterized by greater visual richness than the typically more restrained Italian school. This chart, because of the richness and care in its embellishment, was likely intended for presentation or collection rather than active navigational use. - Portolan charts exist since the 13th century, the earliest known examples are from the second half of the 14th century; they were intended originally as tools for coastal navigation in the Mediterranean and Atlantic and for the understanding of the known world from a European-centered perspective. Charts made for navigational use left inland areas blank, luxury examples such as this one often featured elaborate decoration and symbolic embellishments. - The chart scope extends north to the Shetland Islands and the Norwegian coast (excluding the Baltic Sea), east to the eastern shores of the Black Sea, south to the Red Sea and westward to the Azores (including Faja Grande and Corvo). The Atlantic coastline is shown as far south as the Mauritanian coast, between present-day Guerguerat and Ras Nouadhibou. - This example shares notable stylistic and compositional features with the HM1549 portolan chart at the Huntington Library, signed by Luis Teixeira. The distribution of town vignettes, flags, the crucifix, and the palm motif are highly comparable, though with subtle stylistic differences. The toponymic script also shows significant similarities. Geographically, the present chart spans from the 19th to the 61st parallel and is centered on Sicily, while HM1549 covers the 19th to the 64th and is centered on Sardinia. - It is also worth noting that.
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