Miscellaneous
Maps, views and diagrams of military reviews and encampments
Capture of galleons from Bizerte, c.1628
Presa. Delle dua Galere. / Di Biserta Fatta dall e Galere della sacra Relig.ne di / Stiefano Sotto il coma.do dell Ill:mo Sig:ro Givlio de Conti / Di MontAVto Generale di Mare del Ser:mo Gra Duca / Di...
c.1628Etching; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges top, right and bottom | 24.5 x 32.3 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 722038
A view of the taking of two ships from Bizerte (Tunisia) by a squadron of ships of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, commanded by Giulio, Count of Montauto, on 3 October 1628. Oriented with north-east to top (cardinal points).
To the left of the view is the armorial of the Medicis, representing Ferdinando II (1610-1670), who was Grand Duke at the time of this action. His uncle, Lorenzo de' Medici (1600-1648), was della Bella's patron from 1629. This is possibly one of the earliest etchings by della Bella.
Stefano della Bella (1610-64) (etcher) [bottom right:] Stefan della bella. F.
Watermark: On view: indistinct. On mount: a shield, a kneeling man holding a cross within [similar to Woodward no. 25].
Condition: one fold line; heavily marked with brown [ink] stains
24.5 x 32.3 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
53.6 x 39.3 cm (mount)
Printed title:
Presa. Delle dua Galere. / Di Biserta Fatta dall e Galere della sacra Relig.ne di / Stiefano Sotto il coma.do dell Ill:mo Sig:ro Givlio de Conti / Di MontAVto Generale di Mare del Ser:mo Gra Duca / Di Toscana / Seguita In Corsica Al Isola Taulara / Il DI 3 di octobre 1628. [centre, in a panel]
Additional text:
[along bottom of view, in two panels, one to each side of the title, a key, A-G.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement off the Island of Tavolara on the Coast of Sardinia, 3 October 1628.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top right, on mount, black pencil:] 1628; [bottom right of view, on mount, black pencil:] 5.; [bottom right, on mount, black pencil:] De V 877. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] II/23; [centre, black pencil, on mount:] II/23; [centre, on mount, red pencil, crossed out in black pencil:] 1/160; [top left, on mount, black pencil:] Tavolara.
George III catalogue entry:
Tavolara Presa delle du Galere di Biserta fatta dalle Galere della Sacra Religione di Stefano sotto il commando dell’ Ill.mp Sig.ro Giulio de Conti di Montauto seguita in Corsica (Sardinia) al’ Isola Tavlara il di 3 di Octobre 1628: da Stefan. della Bella.
Bibliographic reference(s)
A. Baudi di Vesme, Le Peintre-graveur italien. Ouvrage faisant suite au Peintre-graveur de Bartsch, Milan 1906, no.877
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2882
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
