The artwork
The rare Dutch caricature map by Jan van Brederode of 1859 is an exceptional example of anthropomorphic satirical cartography, ironically portraying the complex political situation during the Franco-Austrian War, also known as the Second Italian War of Independence. At the centre of the scene, France, represented by Emperor Napoleon III, and Austria, probably portrayed by General Ludwig von Benedek, are locked in hand-to-hand combat in northern Italy, the theatre of military operations. The small figure of the Kingdom of Sardinia, brandishing a sabre from behind France's leg, and the red-coated Italian revolutionaries stabbing Austria in the foot add dynamism and underline the alliances and tensions of the time. Meanwhile, other parts of Italy are enlivened by evocative symbols: the Pope, aghast at the prospect of unification, and Naples, a prisoner in chains yet full of hope.
The map then extends its satire to the other European protagonists, depicting Russia as a bearded giant pushing a boulder labelled "Pan-Slavism", threatening to crush Austria and the whole continent. Great Britain, personified by the stern Prime Minister Edward Smith-Stanley, watches the scene with neutral disapproval, while Germany, in the figure of Emperor William I, shows ambiguous attitudes, with a rifle and a foot that destabilise France. The Ottoman Empire, by contrast, focuses on the Russian threat, ignoring the nearer conflict. Finally, Spain and Scandinavia look on from afar with differing attitudes, ready to intervene if necessary or remaining neutral. Given the ephemeral nature of satirical maps of this kind and the extremely limited number of known copies, this work is a rare and precious historical and artistic document of 19th-century European politics.
Unique quality material
Print on handmade Amalfi paper
Sheet size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in)
With frame: 31 x 44 cm (12.2 x 17.3 in)
Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges
Frame: light brown beech wood and wood pulp, handmade
