Carte du Gouvernement Militaire de la Republique de Venise l’Etat de ses Revenus, de ses Forces, et les Differentes Vues…

The gondolas, canals, and palaces of Venice.

“Map of the Military Government of the Republic of Venice, the State of its Revenues, its Forces, and the Different Views…” – Approximate title translation.

This engaging collection of lively scenes and descriptive text presents the civic majesty of Venice in the late 17th century. Two views show the St Mark’s Basilica and the adjacent plaza – the heart of the city. An aerial view of the massive arsenal, home of the state-operated fleet, can be seen in the upper center. Two panels below show the iconic gondolas and the bizarre tradition of guerra dei pugni, when the two primary city professions (shipbuilding and fishing) would air their grievances in a good old-fashioned fistfight (note the spectators).

The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The breadth of content offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. Descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.