 |
| Joao Teixeira Albernaz - Captaincy of Sao Vicente |
As a preamble to the visitor, a series of Portuguese maps introduce the visitor to Brazil. The maps of the Brazilian coastline are the work of the Portuguese cartographer, Joao Teixeira Albernaz, who, in 1631 produced the first Atlas to map the whole Brazilian seaboard. The watercolour originals are part of the Map Collection of the Ministry for External Relations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Portuguese navigators had an attentive eye for the boundaries of the colony, while the mother country geared herself to the defence of these boundaries. During the colonial period Brazil was considered a secret Portuguese possession, and therefore did not need to show itself to the world.
In contrast to official painting, cartography requires the eye to remain faithful to what it sees in order to achieve precision. Only skill in topographical recording can guarantee a true representation.