Romanum Imperium Ex Abrahami Ortelii

Rare map of the Roman Empire engraved by Henry le Roy for Michael van Lochom.

It is based, as stated in the title on the map that Abraham Ortelius made for his historical atlas, the Parergon.

Michel van Lochom (Antwerp, 1601 - Paris, 1647) is a Flemish engraver and publisher. Michel van Lochom was born on April 28, 1601 in Antwerp, where he was baptized on May 5. He is the son of Hans van Lochom, also an engraver, and Clara Janssens. He became a member of the guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp in 1613, where he was a pupil of Abraham van Merlen. He became freemaster of the guild in 1621. He moved to Paris in 1625, where he was active as an engraver and print editor until 1647. He married Marguerite Lenoir, daughter of a bookseller, on November 12, 1625, after renouncing his Protestant faith. He mainly engraved religious scenes1 and portraits4. Lochom became the king's engraver for the engravings. Michel van Lochom died in Paris on January 23, 1647.

Although undated the map can be traced to the 1640-47 period.

Etching, printed on coeval laid paper, irregularly trimmed to copper with partial or total loss of the ornamental frame, in excellent condition. Very rare.