Lafreri-school view of Constantinople.
Constantinopoli
$4,200
In stock
Description
Bird’s-eye-view of Constantinople/Istanbul, as seen from Üsküdar (Scutari), on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus. The view follows the cartographic model of the important woodcut of Andrea Vavassore, from Venice. Duchetti likely drew inspiration as well from small views found in the various works of Forlani, Bertelli, and Zenoi. These cartographers produced a significant number of city plans and views, especially in the years 1567-9.
Engraved signature and date by the editor. First state (of two). Shield and star watermark in the paper.
Cartographer(s):
Claudio Duchetti was a prominent Italian engraver and print publisher based in Rome during the late 16th century. Active from around the 1570s to the 1580s, Duchetti came from a notable family of printmakers. He was the nephew of Antonio Lafreri, a highly influential figure in the Roman print trade. After Lafreri’s death in 1577, Duchetti continued the family business and became one of the key figures in the production and distribution of prints in Rome. His workshop was known for producing engravings of maps, classical antiquities, religious subjects, and popular imagery, catering to the growing demand for printed material during the Renaissance.
Duchetti’s prints often reflected his time’s intellectual and artistic currents, appealing to scholars and collectors interested in Italy’s classical heritage. His work contributed to the spread of visual culture across Europe and was part of the more significant movement of cartography and printmaking that characterized the late Renaissance. Although he did not achieve the same lasting fame as Lafreri, Duchetti’s role in maintaining and expanding the family print business established him as a significant figure in the history of Roman publishing.
Condition Description
Excellent impression on thick paper. Small restoration on right side, expertly done; for the rest, excellent conservation.
References
Tooley, Maps in Italian Atlases of the Sixteenth Century, 156 I/II; Meurer, The Strabo Atlas, 166; Franco, Novacco Map Collection, 114.