Allegory with Atlas, Father Time and Zeus, Chorografie and Historia
Etching, by François van Bleyswijck, 1713
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

An allegory featuring personified representations highlighting the purpose of the publication as an atlas unfolds. At its centre stands Atlas, bearing a globe adorned with constellations. Nearby, a female embodiment of Chorography kneels beside a globe, clutching a compass, with a model structure atop her head. She is seated in a chariot drawn by a lion and leopard. Adjacent to her stands History, holding a book and pens to chronicle heroic deeds. Father Time, wielding a scythe, leans on a colossal globe, while a winged hourglass crowns his head. Behind him looms Zeus with his trident. This tableau depicts a landscape replete with a cityscape and maritime vessels.