Willem and Joan Blaeu Paintings

Willem Blaeu, born in 1571, and his son Joan Blaeu, born in 1596, were prominent Dutch cartographers, atlas makers, and publishers during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. Their work is renowned for its precision, aesthetic appeal, and contribution to the geographical knowledge of the time.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu, the patriarch of the family, established the Blaeu map publishing house in Amsterdam around 1599 after studying astronomy under the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. He was also a skilled instrument maker and globe maker. Blaeu's first atlas, 'Atlas Appendix' or 'Appendix Theatri A. Ortelii et Atlantis G. Mercatoris,' was published in 1630. This laid the groundwork for his future work on 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,' which would eventually evolve into his multi-volume 'Atlas Maior.'

Joan Blaeu, Willem's son, joined the family business and contributed significantly to its growth. After Willem's death in 1638, Joan took over the business and expanded it to become the largest cartographic publishing house of the 17th century. In 1662, he published the monumental 'Atlas Maior,' which contained over 600 maps and was considered one of the most comprehensive and lavish atlases of its time.

Tragically, the Blaeu print shop was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1672, which resulted in the loss of many printing plates and maps. Joan Blaeu died a year later in 1673. Despite this loss, the legacy of the Blaeu family endures through their surviving maps and atlases that remain highly valued by collectors and historians alike for their historical significance and artistry.