A map of South America

A map of South America by the German Jesuit Heinrich Scherer, taken from the thematic work Atlas Marianus, in which Scherer examines the spread of the Catholic faith across the continents. The white parts of South America represent the territory where the Catholic faith is practiced, the darkly shaded areas represent territories not yet Christianized. The map is richly decorated with nautical motifs and a title cartouche held by angels.