Roma

Perspective map of Rome engraved by Wolfgang Kilian (1581-1662) for the Ioannis Henrici à Pflaumern IC Mercurius italicus... printed in Auguste Vindelicorum: typis Andreae Apergeri, in 1625.

This is an early derivation of the plan of the city of Rome outlined and engraved by Antonio Tempesta (1593).

"On the upper left the coat of arms of Urban VIII Barberini (1623-1644) and on the right that of the Municipality of Rome (SPQR). Bottom 182 numbers of legend. This is one of the earliest reductions of Tempesta's plan, with no update to the prototype except for the depiction of Ponte Santa Maria, which appears "broken" as a result of the 1598 flood" (cf. C. Marigliani, Le Piante di Roma nelle collezioni private, p. 180, no. 83).

The most famous and historically significant work by Johann Heinrich von Pflaumer (1585–1671) is undoubtedly the Mercurius Italicus. It is one of the most famous and widely distributed travel guides to Italy of the 17th century. The author, a jurist from Augsburg, signed his books primarily in Latin (under the name Ioannes Henricus a Pflaumern) and, in later years, published several legal and economic treatises in German related to the issues of the Thirty Years' War. Mercurius Italicus hospiti fidus per Italiae praecipuas regiones & urbes dux (First edition: Augsburg, 1625) is a detailed topographical and cultural guide written for the Jubilee of 1625. It describes Italy's main cities, regions, monuments, works of art, and curiosities. The work was a huge success among European travelers on the Grand Tour and was reprinted several times in various cities, including Lyon (1628) and Utrecht (1643). Many editions contain valuable copperplate maps and cityscapes engraved by Wolfgang Kilian.

Beautiful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, and with fine later hand colour, usual paper folds, otherwise in very good condition.

Bibliografia

Scaccia Scarafoni n. 184; C. Marigliani, Le Piante di Roma nelle collezioni private, p. 180, n. 83.