The Island of Desire

John Thomson’s separately published map of matrimony.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, a popular subject for spoof cartography was marriage, as shown in this fantasy ​‘map’ made in a typical eighteenth century style.

Marriage here is depicted as an Island surrounded by the ​‘Ocean of Lover and Happiness’ to the west; ​‘Ocean of Delights’ north; ​‘Ocean of Peace and Plenty’ east; and the ​‘Turbulent Ocean’ south. A scale bar to the lower left marks ​‘80 love links to the Mile’.

The traveller begins his journey to the upper left, at ​‘Welcome Point’, nestled between ​‘Cupids Arrow’ and ​‘Cupids Head’, in the province of ​‘Solemnisation’. Once reaching land he or she journeys to the ​‘Temple of Hymen’ on the shores of the ​‘Gulf of Elysium’, were the wedding ceremony takes place. The map then marks a further 15 regions each portraying a step along the road of a happy or disasterous union, and each bearing a classical Greek temple. The province of ​‘Possession’ is home to the ​‘Temple of Venus’ (goddess of erotic love); whereas the region of ​‘Irritation’ contains the ​‘Temple of Magaer’a (jealousy), one of the three Furies of Greek; the province of Separation is watched over by the ​‘Temple of Laenesis’, one of the three Fates who were in charge of the destiny of all living things.

One curious aspect of the map, and maybe a reflection of Thomson’s own feelings regarding the state, is the placement of ​‘Desire’ and ​‘Hope’ as islands just off the marriage’s east coast.

Rare. We are only able to trace two instiutional examples of Thomson’s work: the National Library of Scotland; and the New York Public Library.