FLORIMI, Matteo. - Lot 1

FLORIMI, Matteo. [COLLECTION OF 17 PLATES OF VIEWS] SIENNE, ca. 1600 In-folio collection of 17 engraved plates. Old numbering in brown ink at top right of plates (gaps). Fragmentary binding in period parchment with flap, of which only the parchment of the lower cover remains, large circular hole at bottom of lower cover affecting 4 plates. Some plates detached, some with large tears and wetness, margins and edges frayed, last plate incomplete. A fine impression. Handwritten bookplate on verso of view of Palermo "Ex Libris B.M. de S[an]cto Sulpitio". Rare illustrated bound set of 17 cavalier perspective views published in Siena by Matteo Florimi. The collection includes 10 plates illustrating Italian cities: Palermo, Messina, Bologna, La Nobiliss.a Citta di Piacenza, Sena Vetus Civitas Virginis, La Famosa Citta D'Ancona, Pisa, Perusia Augusta, Fiorenza, Pavia; the other illustrated plates are: Algeri (Algiers), Valletta Citta Nova di Malta (Valletta), Moscovia (Moscow), Marsilia (Marseille), Sevilla (Seville), Cairus, quae olim Babylon; Aegypti Maxima Urbs (Cairo), La Cuccagna. Descrittione del Gran Paese de Cuccagna dove que piu Dorme piu Guadagna (the land of Cocagne). These captioned city plans or cavalier views from the late XVIᵉ century offer a detailed view of towns, thanks to their accompanying legend, and give a complete overview of the urban landscape, including important buildings, streets as well as geographical indications. Palermo. Siena, Matteo Florimi, ca. 1600. Map dimensions excluding margins: 40 x 53 cm. Rare bird's-eye view of the city and port within the ramparts, with the surrounding countryside. The title and dedication text are inscribed in rich scrolled cartouches. The main buildings and squares are indicated by numbers, with a cross-reference table numbered from 1 to 128, and the publisher's address at the bottom of the plate. One of the first printed views of Palermo, based on those of Braun and Hogenberg and Majorchus (Bifolco-Ronca III, 1170). Numerous brown stains, 2 small holes missing in the right-hand part, lower margin damaged with small gaps in the legend. Messina. Siena, Matteo Florimi, ca. 1600. Map dimensions excluding margins: 37 x 46 cm. Bird's-eye view. At the top center is the engraved title: MESSINA. Along the lower margin is a numbered legend with 167 cross-references to notable places and monuments. Publisher's address at bottom of plate. Matteo Florimi follows the model established by Argaria and Lafreri. He faithfully reproduces the representation of the city as it appears in the 1567 model. Gaspare Argaria's map is the first complete representation of the town of Messina (Bifolco-Ronca III, 1132). Large right-hand tear in the margin along the framing border. Small brown spots mainly in the margins. Bologna. Siena, Matteo Florimi, ca. 1600. Map dimensions excluding margins: 39 x 50 cm. Bird's-eye view of Bologna. In the lower right-hand corner is the address: "Matteo Florimi forma. In Siena". At top right, in a cartouche, is engraved the title: BOLOGNA. Along the lower margin is an alphanumeric legend with 159 cross-references (A-M and 1-149) to notable places (luoghi notabili), divided into thirteen columns. The city map published by Matteo Florimi faithfully reproduces the map by Claudio Duchetti (1582), itself based on the first printed representation of the Bologna city plan, engraved by Agostino Carracci and published by the publisher Giovanni Rossi in 1581. It is distinguished by the engraved title at top right, framed by a simple rectangular fillet, and by the lower legend, also alphanumeric, which includes only 149 cross-references, compared to 179 in Duchetti's model. Religious buildings are depicted with great clarity; within the Roman perimeter, the new cathedral of St. Peter and the church of San Petronio are easily recognized, rendered with great architectural precision. Outside the Roman quadrilateral, the complex of Santo Stefano, the church of San Procolo and the cathedral of Saints Nabore and Felix are clearly visible. Particular attention is paid to the defensive structure: the plan shows two sections of wall that have now disappeared, one along the Reno canal, the other between the Serraglio di Strada Castiglione and the Abbey of San Procolo ((Bifolco-Ronca III, 1079). Left margin weakened and crumbling to the edge of the subject. La Nobillissima Citta di Piacenza. Siena, Matteo Florimi, ca. 1600. Map dimensions excluding margins: 37.5 x 51 cm.