Catalogo dei manoscritti Persiani conservati nelle biblioteche d'Italia . By Angelo Michele Piemontese. p. xxxiii, 443, illus. Rome, Ministero per i Bene Culturali ed Ambientali, Rome, 1989.

unquestionably by the Ottoman admiral but the maps themselves are far more interesting for they combine a crudity of coastline drawing with a formula for castles and towns which does, however, permit individual distinctions. Since these in no way correspond to Ottoman miniature paintings of the period one may assume that they are the work of an Italian artist not least because they mirror western charts of the period. Whether he was a prisoner or free-lance working for Piri Reis or not offers a vista of fields for research. What is exceptional is the drawing of the vessels at sea, or moored, of all types which include carracks three-quarter face on. The quality and accuracy of this draughtsmanship suggests a training of a superior quality to the portrayal of architecture or the stylization of hills and other geographical features. Drawings may be copied by apprentices but it would still suggest a sure hand and an accurate eye were responsible for these decorative ships, whoever else manned the workshop. One hopes the old seaman was pleased.