The cartography collection of Allard Pierson offers a three month’s Research Fellowship in 2026 for research into the representation of princely cities by means of textual descriptions and visual representations in Blaeu’s atlas publications (dating from 1649 to 1672): the Atlas Maior (published in five languages: Latin, Dutch, German, French, and Spanish), the Novum ac Magnum Theatrum Urbium/Toonneel der Steden, and the Theatrum civitatum et admirandorum Italiæ/Groot Stedeboek van geheel Italie.
This fellowship has been made possible by a generous donation
The atlases published by the Blaeu family typically not only contain maps in the usual sense of the word, but also city views, engravings of architecture, as well as many pages of textual descriptions. Research into the history of cartography has mainly addressed the maps in orthographic projection and has paid less attention to engravings and textual descriptions – even if the latter often occupy much more space in the volumes.
During the early modern period geographical descriptions were an essential element of cartography and geography. The descriptions usually quote examples of geographical texts inherited from Classical Antiquity, thus reflecting the philological interests of humanist scholars. However, the geographical descriptions were also building further on their classical foundations by including contemporary travel accounts and on-site geographical observations. Geographical descriptions and visual maps were published and consumed alongside each other, with the texts informing maps and commenting on them, and vice versa.
The methodology should include a comparative analysis of text and image, as well as of the texts in different languages. In addition, the research should aim for a synthesizing approach and analyze the representation of princely rulership in image and text, by asking how wealth and power are expressed in a spatial manner and by addressing the interplay of textual and visual elements.
The princely cities to be studied during the Fellowship will be mainly in the Low Countries (the Hague, and Brussels), and in Europe (for instance, Moscow, Frankfurt, Cologne, Turin, Florence, Naples, Madrid/Escurial), but a broader scope including princely cities outside Europe is possible, depending on the research interests and expertise of the Fellow.
What we ask:
- A completed PhD (or PhD at hand) in the history of cartography, early modern history, or cultural history
- Research expertise in the history of cartography
- Knowledge of humanist textual culture during the seventeenth century
- Sufficient command of at least two of the languages of the Atlas Maior
- Presence in Amsterdam during the period of the Fellowship
- One or two research presentations (for a general audience and the UvA research community)
- A blogpost for the Allard Pierson website
- A scholarly article in English to be published in an international research journal (peer reviewed); optionally co-authored in part by the supervisors
- Acknowledgement of Allard Pierson as sponsor in all publications resulting from this fellowship
What we offer:
- A three month’s Research Fellowship of 3,000 euros per month (this amount includes all expenses for visas, taxes, travel, and lodging) – preferably in 2026
- Day-to-day supervision and support by Dr Margriet Hoogvliet, Jansonius Curator at Allard Pierson, and additional support by the supervising committee consisting of Prof. dr. Bram Vannieuwenhuyze and Dr djoeke van Netten, University of Amsterdam
- Access to original atlases and maps in the cartographic collection of Allard Pierson
- Work space during opening hours in the reading room of Special Collections Allard Pierson
- Taking part in weekly free staff lunches and in staff events
- A welcoming and cooperative research environment consisting of researchers connected to Explokart (https://explokart.eu), the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture, and Early Modern Troubles - Amsterdam School of Historical Studies - University of Amsterdam.
- Contact and exchanges with cultural heritage specialists and Fellows working at Allard Pierson, a leading and vibrant heritage institution located in the heart of Amsterdam and part of the University Library of the University of Amsterdam
How to apply:
- Max. 1 page A4 motivation for this fellowship
- A short research plan; including the preferred period of the fellowship (max. 2 pages A4), and main bibliography (max. 1 page A4)
- CV max. 4 pages A4
- Names and email addresses of two referees who we may contact
- Submit the documents in pdf to Dr Margriet Hoogvliet, Jansonius Curator: M.Hoogvliet@uva.nl
- Before Monday 30 March 2026
- The decision will be communicated four weeks later, at the latest.