Caravan of Marco Polo (Detail from the Catalan Atlas)
Illuminated manuscript illustration on vellum/parchment • Abraham Cresques (Majorcan Jewish cartographer) and his workshop
Style & Movement
International Gothic / Mediaeval Portolan Map School (Mallorcan School)
Medium & Technique
Ink, watercolor, and gold leaf on vellum; executed with fine pen work and flat color washes typical of medieval cartography.
Creation Period
c. 1375
Dimensions & Format
Small detail or vignette; whole atlas consists of 6 vellum leaves each approximately 65 x 50 cm. Format is horizontal / landscape strip.
Subject Description
A caravan of camels and travelers moving in a linear procession across Central Asia toward the East. It represents the journey of the Polo family (Marco, Niccolò, and Maffeo) along the Silk Road. The composition includes characteristic medieval iconography: stylized humpback camels, figures in contemporary 14th-century eastern dress, and rhumb lines (navigation lines) crossing the background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (Institutional/Museum grade); exhibits typical parchment aging.
Estimated Market Value
Inestimable (National Treasure of France)
Auction Estimate
Not applicable; permanently housed in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Ms. Espagnol 30).
Provenance History
Commissioned by King Charles V of France; held in the Royal Library of France (now Bibliothèque nationale de France) since at least 1380.
Art Historical Significance
One of the most important surviving examples of medieval cartography. It represents a pivot point where medieval religious worldviews began to incorporate factual geographic accounts from explorers like Marco Polo. It is the pinnacle of the Mallorcan school of mapmaking.
Notable Features
Features compass or rhumb lines typical of portolan charts, unique depiction of multi-headed or overlapped animals to imply a large herd, and inscriptions in the Catalan language.
Condition Issues
Fading of some light pigment washes, minor surface abrasions, and natural yellowing/cockling of the medieval vellum support.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional climate control (50% RH), UV-filtered lighting (below 50 lux), and storage in acid-free mounts within the museum archive.