Nuova Carta dell’ Isola Ceilon

Title

Nuova Carta dell’ Isola Ceilon

Description

Decorative map of Ceylon with a title cartouche.

ca. 1750

Artist

Tirion (1705-1765)

Isaak Tirion (1705 1765) was a Dutch bookseller and publisher. He is known for his Hedendaagsche historie (Modern History) and his Vaderlandse Historie, both historical reference works illustrated with engravings by leading Amsterdam artists. Of particular interest today are his map works, such as the United Netherlands in twelve parts and "Tegenwoordige Staat van alle Volken" ("Present State of All Nations") in 45 parts. Some of his atlases were published after his death, such as the Atlas van Zeeland in 1760, which was published again and again until 1784.

Historical Description

Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule as Ceylon. Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road. Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for control of the island as a whole. The island attracted the attention of the newly formed Dutch Republic when they were invited by the Sinhalese King to fight the Portuguese. Dutch rule over much of the island was soon imposed. The Kingdom of Kandy was the last independent monarchy of Sri Lanka. In the late 18th century the Dutch, weakened by their wars against Great Britain, were conquered by Napoleonic France, and their leaders became refugees in London. No longer able to govern their part of the island effectively, the Dutch transferred the rule of it to the British, although this was against the wishes of the Dutch residing there. In 1972, the country became a republic named Sri Lanka, repudiating its dominion status.