Map of Venice from above in 1676 by Stefano Scolari & Giovanni Merlo

This six-sheet map of Venice, published by Stefano Scolari, provides an overview that illustrates with extraordinary precision all the monuments, buildings, canals, and outer islands of the city. The scene is animated by gondolas and other boats in the canals, while larger vessels, including the famous Bucentaur, the state galley of the Doges of Venice, are shown in the lagoon. The map includes unique details such as the shipyard below the Arsenal, the timber yard with workers, the area of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice (the Ghetto), and decorative elements such as the dedication to Ambassador Angelo Corraro, the coat of arms, and an elaborate compass rose.

At the center of the map, the event of the Ascension is depicted, with the 1606 Bucentaur in the foreground as it proceeds into the lagoon surrounded by other Venetian boats. This second edition of the view, originally issued in 1660, is extremely rare; one copy is preserved at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

Material of unique quality

Print on handmade Amalfi Paper
Sheet size: 40 x 30 cm
With frame: 43 x 33 cm
Material: work printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges
Frame: Light brown, made of beech wood and handmade wood pulp