Descrizione del Polesine con Suoi Confini

In the upper center in a cartouche the title DESCRITIONE DEL POLESENE, CON SUOI CONFINI. Bottom right in a braided ribbon SCALA DE MIGLIA DIECI ITALIANI (10 miles equal to 73 mm) and the editorial imprint In Venetia apreso Stefano Scolari alla Insegna delle Tre Virtù a San Giuliano. Orientation with a wind rose, with north, northeast at the top.

Rare and important representation of Polesine, historical region that today is identified with the province of Rovigo, while from the point of view of physical geography is defined as such the territory located between the lower course of the Adige and Po rivers to the Adriatic Sea. 

Exemple in the first state of two with the address of Stefano Mozzi Scolari; a second edition will be printed with imprint In Venetia per Dom.o Lovisa a Rialto.

Etching and engraving, two sheets on three (mm 695x410) depicting the eastern part of Polesine, printed on contemporary laid paper and finely hand-colored at the time, with margins, in excellent condition. The complete map measures 410x1050 mm. 

Born in the territory of Brescia around 1612, Stefano Mozzi Scolari was active in Venice between 1644 and 1687 as a printer. He was among the first to devote himself exclusively to illustrated publishing, and his activity was divided into three strands: the reproduction of branches already belonged to others, especially geographical; publisher or printer of images commissioned by him, in collaboration with Giacomo Piccini and Giovanni Merlo; printer of images made by himself.

Scolari's activity, therefore, had two distinctive features: the reproduction of the existing - more profitable for his print shop - and the production of images related to city life and contemporary news. His career took place in the vicinity of the parish of San Zulian, an area where it is probable that he lived since 1642. He was an active member of the guild of painters between 1660 and 1683 and a frequent visitor to the chapters of the Scuola del Santissimo Sacramento in San Zulian between 1660 and 1691.  (see Alessia Giachery, Stefano Mozzi Scolari "stampadore e miniatore di stampe di rame" nella Venezia del Seicento: vita, attività, eredi, in Bibliothecae.It, 1(1-2), 2012, pp. 93-120). 

Bibliography

Marinelli (1881): n. 943.