FLORIMI, Matteo.
[COLLECTION OF 17 PLATES OF VIEWS]
SIENA, ca. 1600
Folio collection of 17 engraved plates. Old numbering in brown ink in the upper right corner of the plates (some gaps). Fragmentary contemporary parchment binding with flaps, of which only the parchment of the lower board survives; a large circular hole at the bottom of the lower board affects 4 plates. Some plates are detached, some with large tears and damp stains, frayed margins and edges; the last plate is incomplete. Fine impression.

Estimation : €8,000 / 12,000

Manuscript bookplate on the verso of the view of Palermo: "Ex Libris B.M. de S[an] cto Sulpitio".  Rare illustrated bound set of 17 cavalier perspective views published in Siena by Matteo Florimi. The collection includes 10 plates illustrating cities in Italy: Palermo, Messina, Bologna, La Nobiliss.a Citta di Piacenza, Sena Vetus Civitas Virginis, La Famosa Citta D’Ancona, Pisa, Perusia Augusta, Fiorenza, Pavia; the other illustrated plates are: Algeri (Algiers), Valletta Citta Nova di Malta (Valletta), Moscovia (Moscow), Marsilia (Marseille), Sevilla (Seville), Cairus, quae olim Babylon; Aegypti Maxima Urbs (Cairo), La Cuccagna. Description of the Gran Paese of Cuccagna dove que piu Dorme piu Guadagna (the land of plenty).

These city maps or bird's-eye views with captions from the late 16th century offer a detailed view of cities, thanks to their accompanying legends, and provide a comprehensive overview of the urban landscape, including important buildings, streets, and geographical features. Matteo Florimi or Florimj, Florini, Florino (Polistena, c. 1540 - Siena, 1613).

A publisher and dealer of books and prints of Calabrian origin, active in Siena where he opened a workshop in the Banchi district in 1581, Florimi produced prints of numerous cities and territories throughout the world, which were never drawn specifically for him, but were reproductions of pre-existing engravings or maps published by other printers. In the second half of the 16th century, he demonstrated a forward-thinking vision by dedicating himself to producing bird's-eye views of cities as faithful as possible. Florimi copied maps by Antonio Lafreri, Claude Duchet, and Abraham Ortelius.

Regarding his cartographic work, in 1600, Matteo Florimi summoned the Flemish engraver Arnoldo degli Arnoldi to work in his workshop with the promise of higher pay than that he received from Giovanni Antonio Magini, with whom the artist collaborated. Florimi's offer sparked Magini's anger, who, without naming him, called him an "envious forger" for having stolen such a talented cartographer from him. The collaboration between Florimi and Arnoldi lasted only two years (1600-1602), but it was fruitful: together they published the Stato di Siena, the Choronografia Tusciae, the Nuova descrittione della Lombardia, Europa, America, and the Descrittione Universale della Terra.

The complete description of all the maps can be viewed online at lucienparis.com

€8,000 / 12,000

Expert for lot 1:  Béatrice Loeb-Larocque
Tél. + 33 6 11803375

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