Hanc Urbis Cremonae Speciem Antonius Campus Pictor et Eques Cremonen

Etching and engraving, 1583, signed in plate at lower right David de Laude Crem. hebréus incid. [David Laudi, Cremonese engraver active in the late 16th century].

Upper left is the coat of arms of Philip II of Spain, to whom the map is dedicated.

First seminal plan of the city of Cremona taken from Cremona fedelissima città, et nobilissima colonia de Romani, rappresentata in disegno col suo contado, et illustrata d'una breue historia delle cose più notabili appartenenti ad essa, et de i ritratti naturali de duchi, et duchesse di Milano, e compendio delle lor vite, published in 1585, the first historical description of the city illustrated by Campi's beautiful plates.

Antonio Campi or Campo, was a Cremonese painter, sculptor, architect and historian active in Cremona and Milan between 1546 and 1587. His date of birth is to be placed around 1525. He was almost certainly trained in the workshop of his older brother, Giulio. His first known work is the Holy Family with St. Jerome and a patron dated 1546. In the years that followed, Campi was called upon to fresco palaces and churches in several cities-Milan, Parma, Cremona, Lodi, Piacenza, and Brescia, executing some of these works with his brother Giulio. In 1571 he drew up a map of Cremona and its territory, which, presented to the city council, earned him exemption from all taxes. Of the several historiographical books he worked on, he managed to complete only Cremona fedelissima città et nobilissima colonia de' romani..., a history of Cremona printed in folio and published in 1585. The work dedicated to Philip II of Spain is accompanied by a good number of engravings. He died in January 1587.

Beautiful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, usual paper creases, small perfectly restored tear in left side, otherwise in very good condition.

Bibliography

Bartsch / Le Peintre graveur (XVIII.192 p.137); Mortimer 1974 / Harvard College Library Catalogue: Italian 16th Century Books (100).