Beautiful map in two joined sheets offering a detailed representation of the area stretching from Lake Garda to Istria and Dalmatia.
Designed by Nicolas Sanson and published in Amsterdam in 1705 by Pierre Mortier in his work Atlas nouveau, contenant toutes les parties du monde…, the map is one of the finest examples of ancient cartography dedicated to the Republic of Venice.
At the bottom left is an insert with a map of the territory of Bergamo, an important mainland possession of the Republic of Venice. The insert not only enriches the informative content of the map, but also highlights the strategic and administrative value of the Bergamo area within the Venetian state.
Also at the bottom of the map is a rich allegorical scene, a typical element of the great decorative cartography of the time: it includes the coat of arms of the Serenissima with the Lion of St. Mark, symbol of Venetian power and identity, flanked by allegorical figures and a table of conventional signs.
Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667) is considered the founder of the French school of cartography. Born in Abbeville, he distinguished himself from a young age for his geographical and historical skills, attracting the attention of Cardinal Richelieu and, later, Louis XIII. Appointed Géographe Ordinaire du Roi, Sanson revolutionized the cartography of his time by gradually abandoning fantastical and decorative elements in favor of a more scientific, rational representation based on reliable historical and geographical sources. His maps, often published and reprinted by international publishers, became models of reference throughout Europe and profoundly influenced cartographic production in the following centuries.
Pierre Mortier (1661–1711) was one of the most important publishers and cartographers active in Amsterdam between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Of French origin, he settled in the Netherlands, where he was able to take advantage of Amsterdam’s central position in the European book market. Mortier is best known for reprinting and distributing the works of the great French cartographers, including Sanson and Guillaume Delisle, often in large-format editions with high-quality engravings. His publications contributed decisively to the international circulation of French cartography, making up-to-date maps of great formal elegance accessible to a wide audience.
