Calais - V. M. Coronelli 1689

📜 Description
Antique engraved cartographic view of the fortified city of Calais, created by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli and published in Venice in 1689 as part of the celebrated collection dedicated to the principal cities, fortresses, islands, and ports of Europe. The plate depicts the urban and defensive structure of the French coastal city according to the visual language of late 17th-century military and port cartography, with particular attention to the bastioned fortifications, canals, access routes, and maritime connections of the harbor. The composition is organized through a clear topographical layout distinguishing the fortified citadel, the surrounding urban fabric, defensive works, and the nearby landscape, emphasizing the strategic role of Calais in the control of the English Channel routes. The large decorative cartouche placed on the left bears the inscription “Calais Descritta, e Dedicata Dal P. Coronelli Cosmografo,” integrating the celebratory apparatus typical of Venetian Baroque cartography. The intaglio etching technique produces a precise and highly legible engraved line, while the visible original hand coloring applied to the bastions, waterways, and territorial areas enhances both the readability of the antique map and the ornamental balance of the composition.

📚 Historical-Artistic Note
Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650–1718) was among the most important Italian cartographers, cosmographers, and publishers of the Baroque period. Active in Venice, he achieved international recognition through the production of atlases, terrestrial globes, and cartographic collections distinguished by scientific rigor, engraving quality, and decorative richness. His views dedicated to fortified cities and European ports fulfilled both documentary and strategic functions, offering updated representations of the principal military strongholds of the continent. The collection “Città, fortezze, isole e porti principali dell’Europa” stands among the most significant examples of late 17th-century Venetian military cartography.

🧾 Technical Details
Title: Calais
Type: Fortified cartographic view
Author / Cartographer: Vincenzo Maria Coronelli
Publisher / Printer: D. Padovani
Place: Venice
Period: 1689
Material: Paper
Technique: Etching
Coloring: Original hand coloring
Edition / Print Run: From “Città, fortezze, isole e porti principali dell’Europa”
Dimensions: sheet 44 × 56.5 cm; plate mark/engraving 27 × 43 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Sheet in good overall condition. A humidity stain is present along the upper margin together with light traces of age consistent with the period. Engraved surface well impressed and fully legible. Original hand coloring well preserved. Blank verso.