Service Description

Sea monsters on Medieval and Renaissance maps. Every January I try to think about islands, and by definition, then, the sea and ocean and the age of discovery for Europeans and the mapmakers who helped them. Maps are powerful tools for navigation and also instruments of power. I like the edge these have; they are peppered with both islands and sea creatures and monsters and so make the journeys of conquest fraught with fascinations and dangers both real and imagined. Following on from past isolario classes, these maps take us into the age of exploration - the edge (or cusp!) of a darker period of colonial history. We'll focus on these oceanic monsters that didn't make it so easy for them to cross the seven seas, and think about the wider trajectory of isolarios > maps > globes > projections > ideas. Please note: 4 sessions, 11pm London time 3 Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 31 Jan No class on 24 Jan Class includes a bespoke handmade leather envelope-flap cover to paint and free postage to anywhere in the world. Sent separately depending on production schedules. Make your own library of handmade Islamic style books!