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Other 17th-century conflicts

Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars

GIACOMO MONTI (ACTIVE 1642-82)

Siege of Pontelagoscuro, 1643

DICHIARATIONE / Del Disegno del Ponte di Lagoscuro

1643 or later

Etching; printed from eight copperplates on eight sheets of paper, joined; mounted on paper (mount cropped, Type not known) | 43.3 x 135.3 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 723033.a

A view of Pontelagoscuro, unsuccessfully besieged and attacked by troops of the league of the Republic of Venice, under the orders of Mattias de' Medici (9 May 1613-11 October 1667) from 29 August to 3 September 1643 resulting in the retention of the town and fort by the Papal army of Pope Urban VIII (bap.5 April 1568-29 July 1644), commanded by Cardinal Antonio Barberini (5 August 1607-3 September 1671). First War of Castro (1641-1644). Oriented with north to top (cardinal points).

The view is taken from the south bank of the Po which was occupied by Papal troops. The new fort, on the opposite side of the river, which had been built by the Papal army earlier in the year by the engineer Filippo Besser, is still occupied by them. The Venetians, who were fighting on the side of the Farnese and whose flag identifies their locations on the north bank, are encamped to each side of the new fort. Putti sit on the bottom border of the print, blowing trumpets bearing the Papal arms on their banners.

The engraved border at the bottom of this print is also present at the bottom of the accompanying letterpress text (RCIN 723033.b), suggesting that the view and text have been cropped before being mounted on paper during Dal Pozzo's time. A description of the action, together with a key to the letters and numbers on the view, is given in the separate text.

See also RCIN 755215 Genuina et vera delineatio Transitus ad Pontem de Lago Scuro apud Padum flu. 1643.

  • Giacomo Monti (active 1642-82) (publisher) [at end of accompanying text (RCIN 723033.b):] IN BOLOGNA, per Giacomo Monti. / Con licenza de’ Superiori.

  • Watermark: Anchor with six-pointed star above

    Condition: twelve fold lines; some foxing. Verso: surface dirt and some pressure marks

  • 43.3 x 135.3 cm (image and sheet)

    cropped (platemark)

  • Printed title:

    DICHIARATIONE / Del Disegno del Ponte di Lagoscuro. [no title; title of accompanying letterpress text (723033.b)]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Lagoscuro 29 August - 3 September 1643

    Other annotations: none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Lagoscuro A Plan of Ponte di Lagoscuro besieged by the Venetians from the 29.th of August to the 3.d of Sept.r 1643. 8 small sheets. with a Description, published by Giacomo Monti.

  • Subject(s)

    Pontelagoscuro, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (44°52ʹ49ʺN 11°36ʹ25ʺE)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    R. Chiovelli, ‘Ingegneri ed opere militari nella prima guerra di Castro’, La dimensione europea dei Farnese: Bulletin de l’Institut Historique Belge de Rome, 63, 1993, pp. 155-192

    Mark McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3128

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024