Andrea Bianco (cartographer)



Andrea Bianco (15th century, Venice — 15th century, Venice) was an Italian navigator and cartographer.

Andrea Bianco was a Venetian whose activities can be traced from 1436 to 1459. He is the author of both the Bianco world map (in 1436), in the Biblioteca Marciana, and another Portolan map in 1448, consisting of two parts, kept in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. The indication of a year was not the rule on maps in this period. However, the latter dating is considered certain, as he states on this map that he drew it in London in that year.

The Bianco World Map is part of an atlas whose ten pages are made of vellum, measuring 29 × 38 cm. It is considered to be the first extant cartographic work depicting the Portuguese discovery of Cape Verde. On the ninth page is the world map, shown opposite.

Andrea Bianco is also considered to have worked with Fra Mauro, who is considered an even more important cartographer of his time.

Bianco is the subject of the historical fiction book The Mapmaker (1957) by Frank G. Slaughter.