Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Etched and engraved map with letterpress text printed on the same sheet of paper; no mount; gilt edges top and right | Scale: 1:1,000 approx. | RCIN 724030
After Sebastiano Alberti (fl. 1684)
A low/medium oblique view of the Venetian sea-borne siege of the Turkish-held castle of St Maura, 23 July-7 August 1684, resulting in a Venetian victory. Great Turkish War (1683-99). Oriented with south-west to top (cardinal points).
This view, looking west-south-west, is taken from 'Terra Firma' (the Greek mainland). It shows 44 ships – each of them named – of the Venetian fleet ranged in a semi-circle around the fortress, firing on the walls of the castle. The curved trajectories of the land-based mortar batteries are aimed at the interior grounds of the fortification which is shown at a larger scale in the inset.
The bridge of 360 arches, which was constructed on the orders of Sultan Bagiazit, and which connected the castle island to the town of Lefkáda, can be seen at the top (south-west) of the view; it was destroyed later by earthquakes. The siege brought an end to Turkish rule, established in 1487, and the castle reverted to Venetian domination.
After Sebastiano Alberti (fl. 1684) (draughtsman)
Matteo Gregorio Dé Rossi (1638-1702) (publisher) [bottom right, following end of explanatory key:] Si vendono in Nauona in Bottega di M.G. Rossi all’ Insegna della Stampa di Rome
Watermark: Stag in circle, the letter P on top
Condition: one fold line. Verso: remains of paper mount along the bottom edge: there is an insufficient extent of mount to be able to state whether it was Type A or Type B or even the remains of a guard
Scale: 1:1,000 approx. Scale bar: Scala di palmi 200 geometrici [50 mm =].
28.3 x 40.5 cm (image and platemark of map)
34.5 x 40.5 cm (image of whole object)
39.4 x 50.8 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
DISEGNO DELLA PIANTA, ET ELEVATIONE DELLA PIAZZA DI S. MAVRA, E SVOI BORGHI, SITVATA FRA L’ISOLA DI LEFCADA, E LA TERRA / Ferma, dalla qual parte vi si entra, mediante quattro Ponti di Legno attaccati à Sabbionere. Con le Trinciere fatte nel primo attacco, Batterie di Cannoni, e Mortari, come pure / li Approcci fattti nell’ Assedio della medesima, delineati alla sfuggita dall’Ingegnere SEBASTIANO ALBERTI il giorno della sua Resa, che fù li 7. Agosto 1684. [bottom, below map, letterpress text]
Inset:
[left, on a trompe l'oeil scroll:] Alzata di S.a Maura
Scale: not stated; not to scale.
Size: 19.6 cm x 13.4 cm [greatest extent].
Additional text:
[bottom, below title, letterpress, a key, 1-21, to the Piazza of St Maura, the breaches in the walls, the ditches, various field works, batteries, trenches and approaches, the bridges and aqueduct, etc.]
Annotations:
George III heading: S.t Maura 23 July – 7 August 1684.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, black pencil:] IV/53; [on mount, indistinct lettering, ink, in Italian:] [?] Palazo del Cadi G[?].
George III catalogue entry:
Maura, S.t Pianta et Elevatione della Piazza di S. Maura e suoi Borghi, assediata dall’ Armi Venete e resa li 7 Agosto 1684: da Sebastiano Alberti Ing.re apresso M.G. Rossi.
From the collection of Carlo Antonio dal Pozzo (1606-89); sold by his grandson to Clement XI, 1703; acquired by Cardinal Alessandro Albani by 1714, from whom purchased by George III in 1762
Lefkáda, Ionian Islands, Greece (38°43ʹ00ʺN 20°38ʹ00ʺE)
St Mauro or St Mavra, Lefkáda, Ionian Islands, Greece (38°43ʹ00ʺN 20°38ʹ00ʺE)
Mark McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3267