Joan Blaeu (c. 1599-1673) (original publisher)
Amphitheatrum Vespasiani, nunc vulgo Il Coliseo, Plate V
[Vespasian's Amphiteater, Commonly Known as the Coliseum]
from Citta del Vaticano, Roma and Napoli
Pierre Mortier, Amsterdam: 1704-05
Black-and-white engraving
17.5 x 21.25 inches, plate mark
22 x 26.25 inches, overall
$3,200
The Coliseum, Rome -- Blaeu & Mortier
Early 18th Century Dutch Engraving
Early 18th Century Dutch Engraving
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Architectural study Vespasian’s Amphitheater, today known as the Coliseum. Blaeu’s print depicts the structure as an architectural rendering, as it would have looked when originally constructed (rather than in partial ruins). A section is cutout to show the interior and construction details of the façade. A key in the lower margin identifies various parts of the structure. A richly decorated cartouche bearing a coat of arms dedicates the print to a patron of the period.
This engraving was originally published by Joan Blaeu, who published three town-books of Italy during his lifetime: Citta del Vaticano, Roma and Napoli. By the year 1672, a fire largely destroyed the main Blaeu workshop, and much of the prepared material. Nonetheless, work on the town-books continued, and in 1682 the completed work was published in Amsterdam by his heirs. The town-books were a great success and reissued several times by different publishers in Amsterdam, as late as 1726. Pierre Mortier reissued all the Blaeu plates in the years 1704-05 in an atlas comprising four volumes with the imprint of “A Amsterdam Chez P. Mortier Avec Privilege.”
The Blaeu family of cartographers, founded by Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) in the 1630s, became the largest printer in 17th century Europe and the leading cartographic publishers during the golden age of Dutch map making. After Willem’s death in 1638, the firm continued under the direction of his sons Cornelis (d. 1642) and Joan (1596-1673) until a fire destroyed the business in 1672. Their works covered the range of cosmography, uranography, hydrography, chorogreaphy and topography. Heirs and successors such as Covens & Mortier continued to publish the Blaeu family’s works into the 18th century.
Willem Blaeu was a surveyor, globemaker and publisher. Up to 1617, he signed his work Guilielmus Janssonius or Willems Jans Zoon, sometimes confused with his contemporary Jan Jansson. His later work was signed G. Blaeu. His early works include a globe from 1599, and maps of European countries and a world map in 1604-08. In 1629 he acquired 37 plates of maps from Jodocus Hondius, and built upon this acquisition to create the great series of atlases that followed. The Blaeu family are best known for their magnificent multi-volume world atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in various editions and languages from 1635 (first edition by Willem Blaeu), and reissued variously in 17th century. Another significant Blaeu atlas was Atlas Maior (1662), and a major achievement was Joan Blaeu’s 1648 separately issued map of the world composed of 20 sheets, Nova totius Terrarum orbis Tabula.
Cartouche: Nobilißimo Prudentißimo/ D. Cornelio Bicker/ Domino in Zwieten,/ Consvli Reip. Amstelædamensis/ Tabulam hanc D. D. D./ Io: Blaev
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning and wear. Crease from center fold, as issued. Faint mat burn. Small bit of stray printers ink, likely as issued, lower right.
References:
Fleet, Christopher. "Joan Blaeu." Pont Maps Biographies. National Library of Scotland. 2000. http://www.nls.uk/pont/bio/blaeu.html (17 September 2002).
Tooley, R.V. Maps and Map-Makers. New York: Bonanza Books, 1949. pp. 33-34.