Magnificent Maps at British Library

An exhibition of Magnificent Maps at British Library takes place over the summer as 100 of the greatest maps in the world go on show to the public. For anyone with a love of history or cartography, this is a spectacular chance to see some of the most impressive wall maps created, many of which have never been exhibited before.

Magnificent Maps at British Library
Entitled Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art, the exhibition gives you the chance to witness some truly artistic masterpieces, many of which were specifically created to be displayed alongside magnificent paintings and sculptures. Seen as works of political power, art and created as much for flattery to monarchs and despots as for geographical knowledge, these maps tell us much about the time they were created in and who they were commissioned by.

The greatest map collection in the world
The British Library houses approximately 4 and a half million different maps, making it the biggest map collection in the world. Many of the Magnificent Maps at British Library exhibition come from the British Library, and some date back as far as 200AD. Showcasing 80 of the most impressive wall maps ever seen, this exhibition opens up the archives to highlight the biggest, the best and the most resplendent.

Status and power
Throughout the exhibition of Magnificent Maps at British Library the exhibits have been located in setting similar to those in which they would have been placed originally. In schoolrooms, palaces and courtrooms, the locations say much about how the maps were used, and by whom. Conveying different types of status and power, the materials the maps are made from, such as paper, wood, silk and marble, also vary hugely and dictate the kind of use to which they would have been put.

Exhibition highlights
Included amongst the maps, atlases and globes are some amazing artefacts that were created for some of the most important people in history. The Klencke Atlas is the largest atlas in the world, made for King Charles II at the Restoration; a Chart of the Mediterranean Sea is a luxurious map created with gold leaf in 1570 for royalty; and a Chinese Terrestrial Globe made by Jesuit missionairies for the Chinese Emperor in 1623, are all stunning highlights of the show.

The exhibition of Magnificent Maps at British Library takes place from Friday 30th April - Sunday 19th September 2010. Entrance is free.

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