Principato di Pavia

An important and extremely rare map of the Pavia area, drawn by Lodovico Corte and commissioned by Ottavio Ballada, a famous historian and man of letters from Pavia. The plate was engraved by Giacomo Cotta, as evidenced by the signature at the bottom "Jacobus Cotta Bergomensis sculp.".

It is a perspective view of the Principato of Pavia, seen from the north. The richness of the description of the territory is remarkable, especially regarding the waterways. Numerous settlements are depicted, and the Oltrepò hills are seen in perspective. Significant, and unusual for the time, is the mention of two important communication routes: the Bassa Lomellina road and the Romera road of the Oltrepò.

In the lower left corner, within a decorative scrolled frame, the dedicatory inscription, surmounted by the city's coat of arms, reads: "Agl'Ill.mi Sigri Abbati e Decurioni Della Regia Città di Pavia. I confini del Territorio Pavese furono dai re Goti chiamati Contea, e dall'Imp Massimil.o Principato destinato a Primog. Di chi la signoreggia […]. Pavia li 13 Agosto 1654 Ottavio Ballada".

The Principato of Pavia was a historic territorial division of Lombardy, the precursor of today's Province of Pavia. In 1499, the Pavia territory, passed to the Sforza family along with Milan, was granted the status of Principality by the Emperor, and in 1535, it passed to Spain along with Milan. The Principality was dismembered in the 18th century; In 1707, Lomellina and in 1744, Oltrepò and Siccomario were annexed to Piedmont, to which the Vigevanasco area was also ceded.

Ottavio Ballada was a man of learning and vast culture. He entered the College of Jurists in 1631 and was a member of the Accademia degli Affidati. He wrote various works in verse, orations, and treatises on local history. In 1643, he was Provost of the Church of San Giovanni Domnarum and Commendatory of the Priory of San Pietro in Lomello.

Etching, printed on two sheets of contemporary laid paper joined in the center, with margins, two perfectly restored tears of paper in the left white margin, otherwise in excellent condition.

A wonderful example of this extremely rare perspective map of the Principato of Pavia.

Bibliografia

Perini (1996): pp. 67-68; "Pavia nelle stampe" di Sinistri - Belloni pag. 54 n. 45; Cartografia rara, di Valeria e Piero Bella pag. 107, n. 99.