Antonio Lafreri facts for kids

Papal Benediction at Saint Peter, a 1555 engraving of Lafreri from Speculum Romanae magnificentiae

Antoine du Pérac Lafréry (1512–1577), also known as Antonio Lafreri, was a skilled Burgundian engraver, mapmaker, and publisher. He worked mostly in Rome, Italy.

Born in Orgelet, a town in the Holy Roman Empire at the time, Lafreri moved to Rome around 1540. He became very well-known for his work there.

Who Was Antonio Lafreri?

Antonio Lafreri was a very important person in the 1500s. He didn't just draw pictures; he also made and sold maps and other printed artworks. His work helped people learn more about the world and see what ancient Rome looked like.

His Amazing Maps: The Lafreri Atlases

One of Lafreri's most famous works is a collection of maps called the Lafreri atlases. These atlases were published in Rome in 1570. They were some of the very first organized collections of printed maps ever made! The cover of these atlases often showed the figure of Atlas, a giant from Greek myths, holding up the Earth.

• Lafreri worked with many top Italian mapmakers of his time.
• Some of these famous mapmakers included Giacomo Gastaldi, Battista Agnese, and Antonio Salamanca.
• Copies of his maps, like one showing the City of Naples from 1566, are still on display today. You can see them at the Museum of San Martino in Naples.

A Look at Ancient Rome: Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae

In 1575, Lafreri finished another huge project. It was a collection of about 200 engravings called the Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae. This Latin title means "Mirror of Roman Magnificence."

• This collection showed many different views of Rome.
• It was organized into three large volumes.
• The engravings helped people imagine what ancient Rome was like.

How Important Was His Work?

Antonio Lafreri died in Rome in 1577. His work continued to be important long after his death.

• His atlases are very valuable today.
• In 2014, the Bavarian State Library bought one of Lafreri's atlases.
• They paid 1.4 million euros for it! This shows how rare and important his maps are.

Lafreri's work helped shape how people saw the world and how maps were made. He was a true pioneer in the world of printing and geography.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Lafreri para niños