One of the more prolific mapmakers of the so-called “Lafreri School”. Although originally from Verona, Forlani worked mostly in Venice. He etched and engraved his own maps, and those of others, but also published and sold them too. He is associated with four of the leading publishers of the period, for whom he prepared maps: Giovanni Francesco Camocio, Ferando Bertelli and Bolgnini Zaltieri from Venice, and Claudio Duchetti from Rome. He is perhaps best known, however, for his four world maps: “Forlani 1”–“Forlani 4”, and his map of North America, the first separate map of the area.

Paolo Forlani’s first world map with cartouche in the corners and beautifully engraved sea monsters and boats.