MAP, Italy, Rome, Lovisa

Western Italy, Rome. Domenico Lovisa, Campagna di Roma, from Teatro del Mondo, 1697 (published). Hand Color. This charming miniature map is centered on Rome with north oriented to the left. The map depicts the rivers, towns, and topography in the surrounding province. This map was published in Domenico Lovisa's Teatro del Mondo, a pocket atlas based on Abraham Ortelius' folio Theatrum. Loviso copied his maps from Pietro Maria Marchetti's pocket atlas, which itself is often referred to as the plagiarized version of the Epitome as Marchetti's copper plates are closely copied from those of Philip Galle's 1593 Italian edition. Although Lovisa's maps are nearly identical to Marchetti's, many of them can be identified by unfinished elements or a reversed letter "N," as in this example with the town of La Molara (at top right) incorrectly labeled Rocca de Papa (duplicating an adjacent town). Italian text on verso.
Dimensions: 3 x 4.1 in
Condition Report: A light dampstain in the top blank margin and remnants of hinge tape on verso. Grade: A