Drenthe – Johannes Janssonius, 1638

650

Drentia Comitatus” [County of Drenthe]. Copper engraving made by Cornelis Pijnacker, published by Johannes Janssonius (a.k.a. Jan Jansson) in 1638. With original hand colouring. Size: 38 x 48,5 cm.

The creation of this map came about by chance. On its own, the poor and sparsely populated region of Drenthe would not have been able to produce such a map. However, in 1627, legal scholar Cornelis Pijnacker (1570–1645) settled in Meppel and created this map of Drenthe in 1634.

Pijnacker had already had a long career as a professor at the universities of Leiden and Groningen and had served as an envoy of the Dutch Republic in Tunis and Algiers. However, during his last diplomatic mission, he ran into financial difficulties, partly due to the redemption of Christian slaves. His nine-year stay in Drenthe provided him with the opportunity to restore his finances. During his time there, he gave legal advice and created the map, which he had printed by the Hondius firm. Henricus Hondius was based in Amsterdam, as the technical facilities for printing were not available in the province of Drenthe.

The commission to print Pijnacker’s map was likely gladly accepted by Hondius. Not only did the sale of individual Drenthe maps generate income, but the map could also be included in the atlases published by Hondius. Two versions of the map were produced. The first version, issued between 1634 and 1638, featured an ornate title cartouche with a dedication by Pijnacker to the Bailiff and Deputies of Drenthe. This dedication was likely intended to promote the map’s sales in Drenthe. It worked: the Drenthe government indeed ordered several copies of the map.

In the second version (this example), the cartouche was simplified and decorated on either side with hunters and greyhounds. The arms of Groningen, Bentheim, and Münster were added to the relevant places on the map, and a rural scene was included at the bottom. Johannes Janssonius, who was married to a sister of the Hondius brothers, was by then also involved in the business. His name appears at the bottom of the map.

This was the first accurate map of the province. Previously, Drenthe was only depicted on maps of the whole of northern Netherlands, which were small-scale and lacked detail. In contrast, Pijnacker’s map showed numerous landscape details, such as marshes, peat bogs, forests, heathlands, roads, rivers, and lakes. The towns of Coevorden and Meppel were included with reduced city plans. For Westerwolde, included on Pijnacker’s map, it was the first reliable depiction.

It would take more than 150 years before better maps of Drenthe were produced. Well into the 18th century, Pijnacker’s map continued to be included in atlases published by various firms.

Price: Euro 650,-