Join Map Curator Paula Williams as she delves into the fascinating stories of two maps and two men from the northern Renaissance.
John Geddy and Nicolas de Nicolay were more than just cartographers, they were suspected spies in the service of their kings.
During this era, Europe was being reshaped by alliances and wars, making geographical knowledge highly valuable. Advances in mathematical techniques were enhancing the accuracy and usability of maps. Beyond their practical applications for planning and navigation, maps also served as symbols of power and status, defining nation-states and borders.
Paula will explore the maps created by Geddy and Nicolay, contrasting their careers and our knowledge of them.
About the maps
John Geddy's map 'S. Andre sive Andreapolis Scotiae Universitas Metropolitana' is on display in our exhibition, 'Treasures of the National Library of Scotland', until September 2024.
Nicolas de Nicolay's map 'Vraye & exacte description Hydrographique des costes maritimes d'Escosse & des Isles Orchades Hebrides avec partie d'Angleterre & d'Irlande servant a la navigation' is on display in our exhibition, 'Renaissance: Scotland and Europe', until April 2025.
Speaker
Paula Williams is Curator of Maps, Mountaineering and Polar Collections at the National Library of Scotland. She curated our exhibitions 'You are Here: A journey through maps', and 'Petticoats and Pinnacles: Scotland's pioneering mountain women'.
