Painting of the Fort of the Three Kings in Natal from 1647 – Brazil – Rerum per Octennium in Brasilia “Fluvius Grandis”, Barlaeus, Caspar This finely drawn view shows Fort Ceulen (also known as Fort of the Three Wise Men) on the Potengi River in the present-day Natal region. In […]
Map of the Western Hemisphere of 1607 – America Mercator’s foundation map of America “America sive India Nova, ad Magnae Gerardi Mercatoris aui Universalis Imitationem in Compendium Redacta”, Mercator, Michael This is one of the most famous maps of the Americas and an important base map for a collection of […]
1579 Map of the Western Hemisphere – America – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ortelius’ Influential Map of the New World – Second Plate in Contemporary Colour “Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio”, Ortelius, Abraham This is one of the most famous maps of America, which had an enormous influence on the […]
Jean-Baptiste Debret (1768-1848) was a renowned French painter, draughtsman and lithographer, known for his significant contribution to the art and historical documentation of Brazil in the 19th century. A graduate of the Paris Academy of Fine Arts and a disciple of Jacques-Louis David, he initially stood out for his works […]
Map of southern South America of 1668 – Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde… “La Terre et les Isles Magellaniques Tirees des Relations les Plus Recentes”, Sanson/Mariette An unusual map of Patagonia, southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego. Buenos Aires and the mouth of the River Plate are […]
Baroque architecture is an important part of Western history, with unique characteristics that shaped the urbanisation of Europe and can still be seen in Brazil today. Although the first signs of Baroque architecture can be found in works from the early 16^(th) century, it was only towards the end of […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro, 1794 “Plan of the Bay and Harbour of Rio-janeiro on the Coast of Brazil”, Laurie & Whittle This rare plan of Rio de Janeiro is based on the work of D’Apres de Mannevillette, with improvements by Sampson Hall, first mate of the Royal Bishop, and […]
Map of Brazil from 1698 – Istoria delle Guerre del Regno del Brasile “Itamaraca, Brazil”, Horatius, Andreas Antonius This magnificent map of the Brazilian province of Itamaraca, including part of Paraíba, was one of the 23 maps in this rare account of the Dutch-Portuguese colonial war. Written by João José […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro 1682 “Pas-kaart, Van de Zee-Kusten van, Brazilia, Tusschen, C.S. Thome en I.S. Catharina…”, Keulen, Johannes van Rare sea chart of the Brazilian coast from the island of Santa Catarina to Cape S. Thomé. Thomé, together with an inset of the Rio Ianeiro (Rio de Janeiro […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro of 1810 “Esquisse de la Ville et du Port de Rio De Janeiro”, Tardieu, Pierre Francois This rare aerial view of Rio de Janeiro shows forts, batteries and landing places for ships. Soundings, anchorages, sandbanks and navigational hazards are shown. A note in the lower […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro of 1764 “Plan de la Baye de Rio-janeiro”, Bellin, Jacques Nicolas This beautiful map shows the Guanabara Bay with an aerial view of Rio de Janeiro. The decorative title cartouche contains a lettered legend identifying 12 locations in the bay, including 6 forts. Guanabara Bay […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro of 1750 “Plan de la Baye et de la Ville de Rio Janeiro…” This beautiful panoramic plan of Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay was created to illustrate the French siege of 1711. A large compass rose points north to right. Numbered and lettered legends […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro from 1840 – Abrege de Geographie… “Rio de Janeiro”, Renouard, Jules This sheet shows a detailed grid plan of Rio de Janeiro. The topography of the surrounding area is well represented. Drawn by A.H. Dufour, engraved by Desbuissons and lettered by Benard. Map of Rio […]
Map of Rio de Janeiro from 1775 – Le Neptune Oriental “Plan de la Baye et du Port de Rio-janeiro…”, Apres de Mannevillette, Jean B. N. D. This important old harbour chart shows Rio de Janeiro in block plan form. All the islands and coastal features are shown, with many […]
Popular art from the Northeast of Brazil reflects the vastness of its territory and the diversity of its culture, and some types of work can be found, with slight variations, in all the states. While relying on tradition, popular art of the Northeast discovers new languages, techniques and materials: the […]
The representation of Brazil through European eyes in the 17th century From the 16th century, conquerors began to interpret South America not only through words, but also through images. This process of visual representation gained momentum with the Dutch invasion of northeastern Brazil between 1630 and 1654, when European artists […]
The art of tiling would take root in the Iberian Peninsula under the influence of the Arabs, who brought the unknown mosaics to their conquered lands to decorate the walls of their palaces, making them shine and shine with a complex play of geometries. The style fascinated the Spaniards and […]
Map of the Western Hemisphere, 1700 This sumptuous map of the Americas features a dramatically decorative title cartouche depicting an Amazon queen surrounded by riches, a sugar cane field and exotic animals. Inserted in the cartouche is a small map of the coast of New Zealand. The cartography of North […]
Map of the Western Hemisphere, 1719 This spectacular wall map is richly engraved in the tradition of Dutch cartography. Although the main focus of the map is the Americas, it also covers the entire Pacific, including the East Indies and Japan, and the entire Atlantic, including much of Western Europe […]
Map of the Western Hemisphere, 1730 This attractive map is a revision of old Homann’s 1710 map of America. After his death in 1724, his son (Johann Christoph Homann) re-engraved the plate to correct the west coast of North America, which here extends far to the west and north, with […]
The Rio Vermelho neighbourhood is Salvador’s main hub for bohemian life and dining, bringing together bars, restaurants, acarajé stalls, small
The history of Lençóis, in Bahia, begins with diamond mining. The origins of the town are linked to the discoveries made in 1844 in Mucugê and
Ponta de Humaitá is one of the most charming spots in Salvador, situated near Monte Serrat Fort on the Itapagipe peninsula. With a stunning view of
A practical guide to things to do in Pelourinho: Baroque churches, museums, squares, a suggested itinerary and tips for making the most of
The beaches of Salvador, Bahia, offer 50 km of coastline with something for everyone: beaches with calm waters perfect for families, reefs that form
Arembepe is a charming village on the north coast of Bahia, around 42 km from Salvador. Known for its historic Hippie Village, the Tamar Project site
Salvador, the capital of Bahia, is a vibrant city where history, Afro-Brazilian culture, music and beaches come together — the perfect setting for
Bahia Maritime Museum: what you need to know before visiting Housed within the iconic Barra Lighthouse, the Bahia Maritime Museum is one of
