Iconografica Rappresentatione della Inclita Città di Venezia (Iconongraphic Representation of the Illustrious City of Venice)

Art Historical Context

This monumental 1729 offers a sweeping portrait of at the height of its cultural prestige. Titled *Iconografica Rappresentatione della Inclita Città di Venezia*, the work combines a detailed map of the city with panoramic views of its celebrated landmarks, inviting viewers to explore both the urban layout and the architectural splendor of the “illustrious” lagoon republic. Measuring nearly five by nine feet when assembled, the print was designed to impress, functioning almost like a painted mural yet produced through the more accessible medium of printmaking. The image is the result of careful collaboration. Lodovico Ughi and Giovanni Antonio Faldoni created the underlying map, while Francesco Zucchi engraved the surrounding views, many derived from drawings by Luca Carlevariis. Sebastiano Ricci may have contributed to the overall design. Executed in etching and engraving across twenty joined sheets of laid paper, the technique allowed for both precise cartographic detail and atmospheric renderings of canals, gondolas, and façades. Beyond its documentary value, the print captures Venice’s enduring fascination for eighteenth-century audiences. Such large-scale city views were prized by collectors and institutions eager to celebrate—or simply possess—an image of one of Europe’s most distinctive and cosmopolitan centers.