BLAEU, W. - Bressia vulgo Bresse. [Coloured by Van Santen]

Title cartouche with putti and surveyor with surveying instruments. Upper right hand corner Geneva, lower left Lyon and in the centre Bourg-en Bresse. Upper right hand corner Geneva.
The map has been coloured and heightened with gold by the celebrated Dutch master colorist Dirk Jansz. Van Santen (1637/38-1708), whose manner is signified by rich and exotic colour combinations, added elements such as flowers to clothing, marbling to masonry (found here).
Goedings : "Van Santen applied transparent and opaque colours at the same time in both mixed and pure tints. He often painted the whole surface of the map or illustration, transforming the graphic light and dark contrasts into colour.
He applied his characteristic shiny varnish, this had the effect of brightening the colour, frequently making use of the same colour progression."
Atlases and books coloured by van Santen are found in the libraries of the most prominent collectors of the golden age of Dutch cartography ". Bibles and atlases, bound in deluxe bindings by Albert Magnus (1642-1689) and decorated by van Santen were considered gifts worthy of princes. Travelers and poets wrote about this work" (Goedings).
Each town spot is heightened with a gold dot, the title and border lines are also gold highlighted. No text on verso. Probably originating from a special made to order atlas.