Special Collections The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Vol. XIX * No. 1 * Spring 2005

By Katherine R. Goodwin

The recent purchase of the T-O sculpture followed the discussion of this ancient map form by scholar and artist Patricia Gilmartin  at the Virginia Garrett Lectures in the History of Cartography last fall.

Special Collections has acquired a sculpture of a T-O map by noted scholar and artist Patricia E. Gilmartin of Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Gilmartin’s artistic work was noted when she participated in the Fourth Biennial Virginia Garrett Lectures in the History of Cartography held at the Central Library in October of 2004, titled "Mapmaker’s Vision, Beholder’s Eyes: The Art of Maps." The Lectures explored the many ways in which maps reflect the connection between cartography and art. This not only includes those maps that are depicted in works of art from Renaissance paintings to modern post cards, but also the way artists actually create works of art that are, in effect, maps. It was during Gilmartin’s presentation, "Art in Modern Cartography," that the image of the T-O map sculpture appeared, and Special Collections Program coordinator Ann Hodges saw an opportunity to acquire a unique "map" for the Virginia Garrett Cartographic History Library.

Dr. Gilmartin’s main research in cartography involves the graphical and psychological aspects of map design, but she also does research on historical maps. She recently retired from the geography department at the University of South Carolina, after a 24-year career of teaching cartography, to devote more time to her art work. The medium of her sculpture is terra cotta, to which she applies a surface finish consisting of an oxide, metallic patina, gold leaf, wax, acrylic paint, or some combination of the above. The T-O map sculpture recently acquired by Special Collections is terra cotta finished with a bronze patina comprised of several layers of acrylic paints and waxes.

The T-O sculpture took about six weeks to complete, with much of that time spent in waiting for the piece to dry. Left alone, parts of the piece will dry at differential rates, with the edges, which are exposed to air, drying and shrinking faster than the interior areas, leading to cracking and warping. To avoid such problems, the piece was dried very slowly and turned frequently to prevent the top from drying faster than the bottom. The edges were coaxed to dry more slowly than the rest of the sculpture. Once the clay was completely dry, the piece was fired in a kiln and the surface finish applied. It was carefully packed and shipped to Arlington where it was put on display with the exhibition focusing on the art of maps produced for the Garrett Lectures, "Mapmaker’s Vision, Beholder’s Eyes: The Art of Maps."

The origin of Gilmartin’s cartographic art can be found in the Medieval period when Church-sponsored cartography evolved a simplified and stylized map of the world known as a T-O map. The first of these simple maps is found in the two works written in the early seventh century by Isidore, Bishop of Seville, the Etymologies and The Nature of Things. The T-O diagram was copied in manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages and finally printed at an Augsburg printing works in 1472.

The T-O map derives its name from the diagrammatic world map which appears to have the letter "T" contained within an "O" or circle. The circle represents the known universe, and the "T" divided the world into the three known continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. The map is oriented with East at the top, and the area between the horizontal line of the "T" and the top of the circle represented Asia. At the intersection of the "T" on the Asia side is Jerusalem, the center of the world. The lower left sector of the map is Europe, and the right is Africa. The "T" itself represents the large waterways of the world. The left side of the horizontal portion of the "T" is the Black and Aegean Seas. To the right are the Nile River and the Red Sea. The vertical line represents the Mediterranean Sea. The circle itself represents the oceans surrounding the continent.

Special Collections is pleased to add to the Virginia Garrett Cartographic History Library both a T-O map and a work of art by the noted cartographic scholar and artist, Dr. Patricia E. Gilmartin. For further information on maps and cartographic collections, please contact Kit Goodwin, Cartographic Archivist, at 817-272-5329 or goodwin@uta.edu.

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This page last update on Wednesday, May 11, 2005