Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
View of Sebenico, 1647 (Šibenik [Sibenico], Šibensko-Kniniska, Croatia) 43°43ʹ38ʺN 15°54ʹ21ʺE
1647 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper and then mounted on paper (Mount Type B) | 26.0 x 32.5 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 723076
A high oblique view of the Venetian port of Sebenico, besieged by the Turks in September 1647 during which a battle was fought between 9 and 16 of the month resulting in the lifting of the siege and the retreat of the Turks. Fifth Ottoman-Venetian War (1645-1669). Oriented with east-north-east to top (cardinal points).
The town walls were defended by Papal troops and the general defence appears to have been commanded by a Marshal Mirolgli and Hanibal, Baron de Degenfeldt who was formerly of the Bavarian army but now served as a General in the Venetian army, fighting against the Turks (Hilton, p.387). According to Setton (p.149), the Turks had besieged Sebenico for a month during which the Turks lost about 6,000 men (the great loss referred to in the title of this print) while the Venetians lost only about 800. The nearby fort of St Giovanni (not indicated on this print) was also abandoned by the Turks.
It is probable that the cross hatching which is engraved on three inlets on the south-west Adriatic coast are salt pans, the largest of which survives today as the 'Vela Solina' (43°42ʹ37ʺN 15°53ʹ04ʺE).
Alessandro Negri (active 1647-?1662) (dedicator)
Subject(s)
Army-Venetian RepublicArmy-Ottoman EmpireWatermark: Print: none visible. Backing paper: bird standing on three boulders in circle, the letter G above. Mount: none.
Condition: no fold lines
26.0 x 32.5 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
28.3 x 33.5 cm (mount)
Printed title:
Vero, e pontual dissegno; dell’ assalto generale data / da turchi a Sabenico, seguito alli 9 di Settenbro auant / giorno e scaciati alli 16 a hore 7 di notte con gran mo: / rtalita di essi Turchi. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]
Dedication:
[top left, in cartouche representing draped material:] All Ill:mo Sig:r mio Collmo / Il Sig:r Gacomo Querini / Hu:mo e, Diuot:mo Seru:re / Alessandro Negri DD.
Annotations:
George III heading: Sebenico 9 Sep. 1647.
Other annotations: (Recto) Sebenico defended by the [?] 1647. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Sebenico Disegno dell Assalto generale data da Turchi a Sebenico seguito alli 9 di Settembre 1647: da Alessandro Negri.
Subject(s)
Šibenik [Sibenico], Šibensko-Kniniska, Croatia (43°43ʹ38ʺN 15°54ʹ21ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J. Hilton, Chronograms published in the year 1882, London 1885
Mark McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3200
K.M. Setton, ‘Venice, Austria, and the Turks in the seventeenth century’, American Philosophical Society 192, 1991
Page revisions
25 May 2024
Current version
