Details
SANTINI, Giuseppe (fl. ca. 1670). Manuscript plans and drawings of Venetian possessions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Florence: 1670.
2° (472 x 372 mm). 17 leaves, 10 MANUSCRIPT PLANS AND DRAWINGS OF THE DALMATIAN COAST, CORFU AND CANDIA IN PEN, INK AND WASH, comprising: frontispiece with presentation inscription to Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, with Medici shield on monument; double-page plan of Spalato (dated 1666) showing fortifications and settlements, with ships in harbour; single-page plan of Zante (similar, dated 1669); pen and ink drawing of fortress of Clissa in Dalmatia, with travellers in foreground; single-page plan of fortress of Clissa (dated 1668); pen and ink drawing of bay of Spalato, city in background, shepherds in foreground, galley with rowers and other ship in bay; similar drawing of Zante, with ships, windmills, etc; double-page plan of Corfu (dated 1669); double-page plan of bulwark of Sant'Andrea in Candia, showing Turkish siege-works, etc, when forces under Ferdinand II of Tuscany entered it in September 1668; another double-page plan of the same, showing siege-works and counter-works, including subterranean galleries, at time of its loss; double-page plan of Candia under siege by the Turks led by the Grand Vizier Ahmet Köprüllü (the Venetians commanded by the Captain General Francesco Morosini), showing Turkish batteries and encampments and Venetian, French, Papal, Maltese and other ships (dated 1667-69). Contemporary limp vellum, gilt-tooled with elaborate centerpieces (vellum torn at right of front cover, old repair to board edge, some staining, some gatherings loose). Provenance: COSIMO III DE'MEDICI, GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY (1642-1723, presentation inscription from Santini dated shortly after Cosimo succeeded his father); Prince Tommaso di Savoia, duke of Genoa (library bookplate, early 20th-century).
A very fine set of manuscript plans and drawings, of considerable historic interest for the details shown of Venetian fortifications and of the siege of Candia. These were presumably made for the Grand Duke Ferdinand II, who had led an expedition in 1668 to assist the Venetians against the Turks at Candia, where he had some (short-lived) success. Santini, according to his presentation inscription, had himself been present at the siege, possibly as a member of Ferdinand's expeditionary force. Little is known of Giuseppe Santini; the British Library has no printed or manuscript maps or plans by him.
2° (472 x 372 mm). 17 leaves, 10 MANUSCRIPT PLANS AND DRAWINGS OF THE DALMATIAN COAST, CORFU AND CANDIA IN PEN, INK AND WASH, comprising: frontispiece with presentation inscription to Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, with Medici shield on monument; double-page plan of Spalato (dated 1666) showing fortifications and settlements, with ships in harbour; single-page plan of Zante (similar, dated 1669); pen and ink drawing of fortress of Clissa in Dalmatia, with travellers in foreground; single-page plan of fortress of Clissa (dated 1668); pen and ink drawing of bay of Spalato, city in background, shepherds in foreground, galley with rowers and other ship in bay; similar drawing of Zante, with ships, windmills, etc; double-page plan of Corfu (dated 1669); double-page plan of bulwark of Sant'Andrea in Candia, showing Turkish siege-works, etc, when forces under Ferdinand II of Tuscany entered it in September 1668; another double-page plan of the same, showing siege-works and counter-works, including subterranean galleries, at time of its loss; double-page plan of Candia under siege by the Turks led by the Grand Vizier Ahmet Köprüllü (the Venetians commanded by the Captain General Francesco Morosini), showing Turkish batteries and encampments and Venetian, French, Papal, Maltese and other ships (dated 1667-69). Contemporary limp vellum, gilt-tooled with elaborate centerpieces (vellum torn at right of front cover, old repair to board edge, some staining, some gatherings loose). Provenance: COSIMO III DE'MEDICI, GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY (1642-1723, presentation inscription from Santini dated shortly after Cosimo succeeded his father); Prince Tommaso di Savoia, duke of Genoa (library bookplate, early 20th-century).
A very fine set of manuscript plans and drawings, of considerable historic interest for the details shown of Venetian fortifications and of the siege of Candia. These were presumably made for the Grand Duke Ferdinand II, who had led an expedition in 1668 to assist the Venetians against the Turks at Candia, where he had some (short-lived) success. Santini, according to his presentation inscription, had himself been present at the siege, possibly as a member of Ferdinand's expeditionary force. Little is known of Giuseppe Santini; the British Library has no printed or manuscript maps or plans by him.