1552 Venetiarum amplissima & maritima urbs...
By: Sebastian Münster
Date: 1552 (circa) Basel
Dimensions: 9.6 x 15 inches (24.5 x 38 cm)
This fascinating woodblock engraving of Venice is from an early Latin edition of Sebastian Münster’s famous oeuvre focusing on cities, the Cosmographia, one of the most important cartographical contributions of the 16th and 17th centuries. The map is one of the earliest obtainable birds eye views of the city and its environs, depicting it at a time when its earlier long-time prowess as a center of trade and power at sea, was beginning to ebb.
Münster’s detailed depiction denotes landmarks which are easily identifiable today, including the Basilica and Campanile of St. Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto bridge, along with numerous churches and other grand and beautiful architectural edifices which still embellish the canals of the great city. Many of its islands are shown with toponyms including the names of the churches, which are pictorially depicted.
The world-famous Murano is in its place in the lagoon. Long envied for its glassmaking traditions, the island was also famous for its policy regarding its secrets of manufacture, which were held as state secrets with the penalty of death for anyone disclosing them. The illustration depicts a well-developed industrial complex covering the entire island.
Two insets in an area of the lagoon contain Latin text describing the urban design of the city and including descriptions for accessing both the mainland and the Mediterranean from the area. The text also describes the inhabitants of the city, its many monasteries, and of the glass production process of Murano. At least 25 religious structures are depicted in the map, including churches, monasteries, and other ecumenical buildings. The Arsenal is named and easily identifiable.
An interesting contrast is shown by the calm waters within the sandbanks which protect the city, and the turbulence of the seas on their outer side. Numerous vessels are shown sailing in the waters of the lagoon along with smaller ones on the canals. As with many early maps, one could easily use this depiction of Venice as a guide to its many historical landmarks which annually draw an increasingly cumbersome number (for Venetians) of tourists to it annually.
Condition: This map is in B conditions. Trimmed almost to the neat line on the left, with some loss of the neat line in the upper right. Some damp staining in both lower corners of the margin.
Inventory #12856
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