Posted June 25 2008
Mapping the Holy Land
With the Spertus Museum’s recent “censorship” of its exhibit of Holy Land maps, it is especially nice to see that famous (and autistic) artist Stephen Wiltshire has drawn Jerusalem.
One blog says Wiltshire also wants to draw Tel Aviv, and quotes: “Jerusalem was the hardest city I’ve ever encountered to draw. There are many tiny details that are without architectural order or reason.”
This is part of a larger tradition of Holy Land mapping, that includes Bünting’s 1581 clover-leaf Jerusalem, famous for casting the city as the center of the world. Other artists have included New and Old Testament scenes or the “Templum Salomonis” (like von Breydenbach does) in their maps, juxtaposing the old and the new.
Wiltshire’s is surely more helpful for tourists than Bünting’s symbolic map, but the clover does show how artists tend to create the Holy Land in their own image, which is perhaps where Spertus encountered its troubles. Kudos to Wiltshire for creating a non-partisan view.
See Wiltshire draw Rome in this YouTube video.
[Photo from Daylife.com]
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3 Comments currently posted. 
Dave Weinberg says:
Menachem Wecker says:
See a story here of how thieves stole a replica. In terms of getting a print, you can try the agent here.
Dave Weinberg says:
Dear Dave,
Thank you for your message.
The original drawing is currently being exhibited in Jerusalem for the next two months and then smaller version of prints will be issued along with a press release.
We notify our members about new prints / originals / upcoming exhibitions through our monthly newsletter. You can sign up to it at this address:
http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/signup.aspx
Best regards,
–
Zoltan Szipola
The Stephen Wiltshire Gallery
The video of Wiltshire drawing Rome from memory is INCREDIBLE! I would love to own a smaller version print of his Jerusalem drawing. Any idea if this will ever be available?