Venetia

Reference: S40841
Author Donato BERTELLI
Year: 1569
Zone: Venice
Measures: 290 x 225 mm
€2,500.00

Reference: S40841
Author Donato BERTELLI
Year: 1569
Zone: Venice
Measures: 290 x 225 mm
€2,500.00

Description

Perspective map of Venice by Donato Bertelli, here in its extremely rare first edition with typographic text at the bottom, known from only 2 other institutional examples [Milan, Bertarelli Collection; Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek].

In the top centre, engraved in large letters below the top edge, is the title: VENETIA. Along the lower margin and applied is a typographic sheet containing an alphabetical legend of 78 cross-references, (A-Z, AA-ZZ, AAA-ZZZ and AAAA-NNN), spread over eight columns.

“Perspective plan of the city, undated, which bears - in its first issue - the editorial imprint of the Libreria S. Marco identifying Donato Bertelli's typography. The first edition of the work bears a text printed in typographic characters at the bottom, showing that the map circulated even before it was included in the collection Le vere imagini et descritioni delle piu nobili citta del mondo, published in Venice by Donato in 1569. Indeed, the examples belonging to the collection are characterised by the engraved legend in the lower white margin, where Bertelli's address is not present. Schulz first and Moretto later argue, on the contrary, that the examples with the typographical text are from the second edition of the plate. Cassini dates the work to 1574 as he only knows of the examples contained in the Civitatum aliquot insigniorum et locorum, magis munitorum exacta delineatio: cum additione aliquot insularum principalium published by Donato Bertelli in that year. The plate knows a third issue, posthumous, published by Andrea Bertelli (1594). It is inserted in a large typographic sheet, containing a description of the city by Giovanni Nicolo Doglioni, dedicated to Tommaso Morosini. There is a list of Doges up to Pasquale Cicogna (1509 - 1595) and a historical chronology of events concerning Venice from the year 407, of the first settlements in the lagoon, to 1593, which marked the start of the construction of the fortress of Palmanova. In this last edition, the map is accompanied by the legend engraved on the plate, confirming the fact that the examples with the typographic legend constitute the first draft of the work” ((cfr. Cartografia e topografia italiana del XVI secolo, p. 2474).

Donato Bertelli's work is a faithful replica of Forlani's model (1567) or of Ferrando Bertelli's copy of the following year, made by carving an additional plate. The legend, here alphabetical, follows that of Forlani's plate and is composed of 21 cross-references, omitting the one added in Bertelli's plan. Some examples of the map are included in the collection Le vere imagini et descritioni delle piu nobili città del mondo, published in Venice by Donato Bertelli in 1569. Still others are included in sixteenth-century composite atlases.

“In assoluta concorrenza con le raccolte di Forlani e di Ferrando Bertelli, fu pubblicata a Venezia, sempre a cura di Donato Bertelli nel 1569, la raccolta Le vere imagini et descritioni delle piu nobilli città del mondo. Verae illustrissimae cuiusque urbis imagines nunc prim[um] typis impressae. Venetiis, Apud Donatum Bertellii ad signum divii Marci MDLXIX. Come quella di Ferrando, l’opera contiene un frontespizio allegorico inciso, con un titolo bilingue in italiano e latino, e con la dedica a Iohan Jacob Fugger von Kirhberg (1514-1575), banchiere tedesco mecenate delle arti: Illustri, ac generoso heroi d. Ioanni Iacobo Fuggero Kirchbergae, Weissenhorni, et c. domino caesareae maiestatis consiliario dicatae. La raccolta, che conobbe una ristampa nel 1574 e una nel 1578, comprende il titolo e 21 piante o vedute di città. Si tratta, dunque, solo di una selezione incentrata sulle città principali, rappresentate da tavole derivate dal “Primo Libro”, già replicate nel Civitatum aliquot insigniorum et locorum del 1568. Vengono escluse le immagini delle città fortificate ungheresi e dei luoghi minori, in una sorta di prodotto elitario, meno innovativo ma più curato dal punto di vista grafico. Valerio (cfr. Piante e vedute di Napoli dal 1486 al 1599, 1998, p. 45) descrive l’esemplare conservato alla Jerome & Ann Fisher Fine Arts Library della University of Pennsylvania [711.4 B486], datato 1569, e la ristampa del 1578 conservata alla Public Library di New York. Entrambi differiscono, per contenuto e ordinamento delle tavole, da quello conservato alla Biblioteca Angelica di Roma [BB-12-9] e da quello alla Stanford University, che recano entrambi la data 1578. L’unico elemento comune a tutte le edizioni è la presenza della pianta di Venezia (come prima tavola. Non è raro trovare le tavole di Bertelli conservate in raccolte fattizie di grande formato: in quella della Universiteto Biblioteka di Vilnius (cfr. Dzikowski, Katalog atlasów Biblioteki Uniwersyteckiej Stefana Batorego, 1940) sono presenti la quasi totalità delle tavole che compongono la raccolta, come pure nel cosiddetto “Atlante Aragona” (conservato in un’anonima collezione privata americana e del quale siamo riusciti ad avere le immagini). Numerose le tavole presenti nella collezione della Raccolta Bertarelli [VOL EE 46 (1-240)], conservata al Castello Sforzesco di Milano” (cfr. Stefano Bifolco, Città e Fortezze Principali del Mondo. Le prime raccolte italiane di cartografia urbana e gli isolari del XVI secolo in “Cartografia e topografia italiana del XVI secolo”, 2018, pp. 124-125).

Donato Bertelli is a printer and publisher active in Venice in Merzaria all'insegna di S. Marco. He was probably born in Padua, as we can deduce from his signature on some branches, Donatus Bertellius Patavinus, his activity, on the basis of the works he published, can be circumscribed to the years between 1558 and 1592. In 1559 he was in the workshop of Ferrando Bertelli and signed In Venetia appresso Donato Bertelli libraro al segno del S. Marco. Upon Ferrando's death, Donato inherited or purchased his branches and published them, as he did also for plates by Forlani and Camocio, affixing his name.

Etching and engraving, impressed on contempoary laid paper, with margins, in perfect condition. Very rare.

Bibliografia

S. Bifolco – F. Ronca, Cartografia e topografia italiana del XVI secolo (2018): pp. 2474-2475, tav. 1265 I/III; Cassini (1971): n. 20; Moretto (2001): n. 30; Schulz (1970): nn. 21-22.

Donato BERTELLI (Attivo a Venezia seconda metà del XVI secolo)

Bertelli family represents the largest group of publishers, engravers, cartographers and merchants of prints of the sixteenth century. Ferrando Bertelli was the most productive, active between 1570, the 1560th, but maps of the last quarter of the century are known by the names of Andrea, Donato, Lucca, Nicholas and Peter. This was mainly active in Padua, where he led a workshop in letterpress and engravings. The earliest records show the asset at the date of 1589 as an engraver of several plates for an edition entitled Diversarum nationum habitus which was published in collaboration with Alciato Alciati. Pietro Bertelli had a library in Padua "the banner of the Angel". At his death the business was inherited by his son Francis. Donato Bertelli was printer, publisher and print dealer, was probably born in Padua, as is made clear by some of its branches ("Donatus Bertellius Patavinus") but active in Venice between 1563 and 1574, although it tends to expand its activities 1558 to 1592 on the basis of cartographic material marketed by him in those years. He worked in the workshop of Ferdinando Bertelli - with which it is not yet clear to the family relationship - from whom he inherited the branches etching, substituting his own name. As a publisher chalcographer emerged from his workshop papers invention or derivation Christmas Bonifacio, Giacomo Gastaldi, Ortelius etc.. In view of the large number of cards he initialed the Almagia him as "the principal heir and successor of the most active producers in the second half of the sixteenth century" in Venice. His successor "to the book publishing of St. Mark" was Andrea, who always used the old branches of Donato. Bibliography: Valerio, Cartographers Veneti, p. 149.

Donato BERTELLI (Attivo a Venezia seconda metà del XVI secolo)

Bertelli family represents the largest group of publishers, engravers, cartographers and merchants of prints of the sixteenth century. Ferrando Bertelli was the most productive, active between 1570, the 1560th, but maps of the last quarter of the century are known by the names of Andrea, Donato, Lucca, Nicholas and Peter. This was mainly active in Padua, where he led a workshop in letterpress and engravings. The earliest records show the asset at the date of 1589 as an engraver of several plates for an edition entitled Diversarum nationum habitus which was published in collaboration with Alciato Alciati. Pietro Bertelli had a library in Padua "the banner of the Angel". At his death the business was inherited by his son Francis. Donato Bertelli was printer, publisher and print dealer, was probably born in Padua, as is made clear by some of its branches ("Donatus Bertellius Patavinus") but active in Venice between 1563 and 1574, although it tends to expand its activities 1558 to 1592 on the basis of cartographic material marketed by him in those years. He worked in the workshop of Ferdinando Bertelli - with which it is not yet clear to the family relationship - from whom he inherited the branches etching, substituting his own name. As a publisher chalcographer emerged from his workshop papers invention or derivation Christmas Bonifacio, Giacomo Gastaldi, Ortelius etc.. In view of the large number of cards he initialed the Almagia him as "the principal heir and successor of the most active producers in the second half of the sixteenth century" in Venice. His successor "to the book publishing of St. Mark" was Andrea, who always used the old branches of Donato. Bibliography: Valerio, Cartographers Veneti, p. 149.