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Fine manuscript example of one of the most important early plans of Venice and one of the rarest.
The map would appear to be a manuscript copy of Scolari's Disegno della pianta di Venezia con tutti i canali, rij, chiese, ponti, isolette, descrition de sestieri, published in Venice in 1677, drawn from the Badoer-Scolari plan of Venice, first published in 1627. The so-called "Badoer-Scolari" plan of Venice is the earliest of four basic plan forms for Venice, which would influence later map makers for many years. The map was first published in 1627 by an unknown publisher and engraver, with a dediction to "AL SER.MO PRENCIPE ZUANE CORNER DUCE DI VENETIA (...) DI V.SER.TA DIVOT.MO ET AFFET.MO SER.RE ALESSANDRO BADOER FU DE F.CE."
The Badoer-Scolari plan is the first scientifically drawn plan of Venice. The contour of all of Venice is shown, as are the courses of the main canals. Important buildings and structures are represented using a perspective style, with many place names included. The Badoer-Scolari plan is also the first to includes the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and includes many up to date details. In 1660 Stefano Scolari published seveal copies of the plan and included his address: STEFANO SCOLARI FORMA IN VENETIA A S. ZULIAN.
The present example would appear to be a finely executed manuscript copy of the Scolari map of 1677, incorporating the detail and perspective of the Badoer-Scolari plan and the main portion of the title of Scolari's map of 1677. The plan is executed by an anonymous hand, but clearly a highly skilled and trained one, as the map captures with tremendous detail and elegance the perspective and precision of the original.
Our survey of Italian dealers suggests that the appearance of a 17th Century manuscript plan of Venice on the market is quite unusual and none of the dealers and experts with which we spoke could recollect such a plan appearing on the market.
