Maps and Art
From the Middle Ages to approximately the 15th century, maps were little more than abstract symbols. A good example of this is the T and O (Mappa Mundi) maps. In the 16th and 17th century, the depictions of cities progressed from profile view to panoramic view and then, in later centuries, from panoramic to ultimately aerial/satellite view. It is this last view that most people think of when they think of maps since it tends to be the one used in modern maps. When making a map of a city and using the profile view, only a few important buildings could be shown. As the view moved up to panoramic view, more ordinary buildings could be shown. When using the aerial view, all buildings and streets could be shown. As the viewpoint moved higher, the challenge/difficulty for the creator increased. Drawing a city in profile required skill. The panoramic view required greater skill in that the creator needed to not only draw buildings accurately using perspective but he also had to depict the spacing between buildings in the city accurately. Using an aerial viewpoint, the creator of the map needs a combination of skills, but there is a shift to scientific skills and away from artistic skills since less of the buildings will be show.
Portraits of people were originally idealized and not realistic. Throughout time, portraits have often been designed to flatter even though the best ones do not. The first portraits were of the most important people: rulers, nobility, and members of the higher religious hierarchy. Later the wealthy, landed gentry also had their portraits rendered. These portraits would portray the person in their "best," their finest dress, in a dignified pose and often showing symbols of power. These portraits were intended to communicate a message about the importance of the person depicted.
Some of the earliest maps were of cities and they were very selective in terms of what features were included. Often it was only the most important features, such as the temple, the ruler's palace, City Hall, a river, etc., that were included. The most splendid architecture and the most important landmarks were depicted. These maps communicated a message about the importance of the city. As time went on, portraits became more concerned with giving a realistic representation of an individual, warts and all. As with portraits, there was also a movement in landscapes to move from idealized landscapes to more realistic ones, such as in the work of John Constable. As maps developed, they too became more interested in depicting what is "true," by being as accurate as possible. However maps inherently tend to idealize despite the striving for accuracy. They don't show potholes, slum houses, broken fences or any other undesirable aspects of life. As Oscar Wilde said "A map of the World that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at."
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