Name/Title
NOVI BELGII IN AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIEntry/Object ID
PM.69.1Description
Engraved and tinted map showing present-day northeast: title in cartouche: "Recens Edita/totius/Novi Belgii/in/America Septentrionali/siti,/deliniatio/cura et sumptibus/Matthaei Seutteri,/Chalcographi Augustani". At left of cartouche (in lower right corner), and climbing over inset view, procession of 11 blacks variously carrying fish or skins, baskets of wood, and what might be blocks of gold, and rolling kegs (of tobacco, probably) toward a white queen with back turned at whose feet is a box of gold coins. The figures of Mercury and another mythological personage stand between the queen and a seated bewigged king, who appears to receive a baton of greenery of second mythical figure. At right, putto holds shield bearing British royal arms, flanked by unicorn and lion. Scene is polychrome, and includes brown, yellows, blues, pink, grey, purple,and bright red. Map colors-outlines in dark pink, blue, orange, yellow, pale yellow, pale greenish blue. At the bottom of the map, is the "Restitutio" view of New York, with the title "Neu Jork...Neu Amsterdam." Beneath the harbor view is a legend, A through T, listing sites and buildings in the city in Latin. Among the listed areas are: signal towers, Ft. James, the prison, the Reformed Church, the Governor's home, public granery, public dock, canal, court, Lutheran Church, sea gate, city gates, "road to sweet water," windmill, various small harbor defenses, Stuyvesant's house and the East River.
The map is of Northeastern America from c.Virginia-St. Lawrence River. Place names are in Latin, Dutch, and less often, English. The area covered is from longitude 312 degrees W to 296 degrees W, and latitude from 46 degrees N to 37 degrees N. Place names are sometimes multiple, as in: "Magnus Fluvius"/"Great River"/alias Manhattonis R., Noort Rivier, Montaigne R., Maurits R." for the Hudson. "Insula Longa alias Iorchshire", "Neu Jorck alias Neu Amsterdam", Manhattans," "Hellegat," "Wickquaskeck"/Dobbs Ferry', and "Sin Sing" are among those of interest. The St. Lawrence River is denoted "Fluvius S. Laurenti alias Magnus fluvius Novi Belgii." Scale of miles, indicated at the lower left, is given in "German Common."
One of the most interesting features of the map is the use throughout of a variety of indigenous animals and birds, as well as, in New York, two Indian villages with stockades and long houses. Among the animals illustrated in rather bright colors are wild pigs, turkey, goat, deer, moose, fox, bears, beaver, rabbits, pheasants, herons, as well as goats, cattle, and several rather mythical-looking beasts.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Matthew SeutterAttribution
MakerDate made
1730 - 1740Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
See descriptionDimensions
Dimension Description
+ MarginsHeight
19-1/2 inWidth
22-1/2 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 19 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. (49.5 x 57.2 cm)Material
Paper, ink, WatercolorCondition
Notes
Remarks: Center vertical crease at middle of map; slight wave to paper overall; frame has regular horizontal cracks in the gilt molding, but no loose pieces; reproduction reinstalled in frame for Winter Antiques Show temporarily and reproduction replaced after the show.Relationships
Related Entries
Notes
L.2004.121 - Map - Similar itemGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Map depicts New York in 1673-74.
N. B. Chalcography is the art of engraving on copper or brass; and the use of the term "Chalcographi Augustani" on this map seems to be indicative of the first state of the map.
For Visions exhibition, packed in Crate #10.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Shelf 28C