Battista Agnese

Agnese was a hugely influential producer of 16th Century portolan atlases. Although his work found its way into the libraries of emperors, kings, cardinals and dukes, virtually nothing is known of his life. He was most likely born in Genoa. However, all of his atlases were produced in the Republic of Venice, beginning around 1535. Agnese's atlases, such as the one in the Sunderland Collection, were all elaborate and very expensive in their day. He probably operated a studio to achieve the high number of items that he created.