Where can I see The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal?

The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal?

The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal

The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal is an ink print by the Baroque artist Willem Basse. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Willem Basse’s 1634 print, titled The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal, is an etching and engraving executed on laid paper. The work presents a formal assembly of clothed figures gathered around a table that supports a globe and a draped map, suggesting a diplomatic negotiation over territorial claims.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a council of dignitaries, centered on a crowned figure holding a scroll, likely representing sovereign authority. The presence of the globe and the map conveys the historical moment when Spain and Portugal negotiated the division of newly discovered lands, reflecting the political importance of the 16th‑century Treaty of Tordesillas and its later reinterpretations.

Technique & Style

Basse employs fine, sharply defined lines characteristic of early‑modern engraving, combined with delicate cross‑hatching to model the textures of fabrics and metallic surfaces. The use of laid paper provides a subtle tooth that enhances the contrast between the dark inked areas and the lighter background, giving the scene a crisp, documentary quality.

History & Provenance

Created in 1634, the print belongs to a period when cartographic and diplomatic subjects were popular among Northern European printmakers. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has appeared in several collections of early modern prints that document the visual culture of European imperial negotiations.

Context

The image emerges against the backdrop of ongoing rivalry between the Iberian powers over overseas expansion. By the early 17th century, the original 1494 demarcation line had become contested, prompting renewed visual representations of the division of the world as a means of legitimizing claims.