1693 – V. M. Coronelli – Citta di Venetia

Title: “Citta di Venetia descritta dal P. Coronelli Cosmografo della Serenissima Republica”
(The City of Venice, described by Father Coronelli, Cosmographer of the Most Serene Republic)

Dedication: “Dedicata all’Illustrissimo Signor Abbate Abbondio Rezzonico Patritio Veneto. MDCLXXXXIII”
(Dedicated to the Most Illustrious Lord Abbot Abbondio Rezzonico, Venetian Patrician, 1693)

Description:

A large and spectacular bird’s-eye view of Venice by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, official cosmographer of the Venetian Republic. Dated 1693, it was printed from two copper plates joined together. The Italian map historian Moretto called it one of the most beautiful and admired views of Venice. This is the first state, with the dedication to the abbot Abbondio Rezzonico. In later states the dedication was changed and then removed altogether.

The view looks north across the city. The Grand Canal snakes through the centre past Piazza San Marco and its campanile. Below it are the Giudecca Canal, the island of Giudecca and San Giorgio Maggiore with its Benedictine monastery, and Murano and the smaller islands of the lagoon are in the distance. The canals are crowded with gondolas, galleys and sailing ships, and “Laguna di Venetia” is spelled out across the water.

The view is framed by a winding garland of laurel and ribbon carrying the coats of arms of the towns and territories of the Venetian state. At the top sits the winged Lion of St Mark, with his open book reading “Pax tibi Marce Evangelista meus”. The title is in an oval medallion on the left and the dedication in a matching one on the right.

The dedicatee belonged to the Rezzonico family, which later gave Venice a pope, Clement XIII, and gave its name to the Ca’ Rezzonico palace on the Grand Canal.

Coronelli (1650–1718) was a Franciscan friar and one of the great mapmakers of the Baroque. He made the celebrated giant globes for Louis XIV and founded the Accademia degli Argonauti, the first geographical society. The view was issued in his atlases of the 1690s, including the Corso Geografico Universale and the Isolario volume of his Atlante Veneto.

Cartographer:            Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718)

Engraving size:         83,5 x 48,0 cm

Sheet size:                   93,0 x 59,0 cm

Year:                             1693

Technique:               copper engraving

Reference: Moretto, Venetia, no. 114, state 1; Cassini, Piante e vedute prospettiche di Venezia, no. 52

Condition:
RReasonable. Cleaned and laid down on acid-free paper, from which a professional can remove it without damage. The sheet has losses, as shown in the photographs. Parts of the decorative border and edges are missing, mainly along the left and upper sides. There are larger losses within the view, to the right of centre and in a vertical strip near the left edge, as well as numerous worm holes and some browning. The title, the dedication, the Lion of St Mark and the heart of the city around San Marco are intact.

This is an original antique map published in 1693 and NOT a modern copy or reprint

On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity