1793 Cassini Wall Map / Case Map of Italy

This is Giovanni Maria Cassini's monumental 1793 wall map of Italy. Considered the best map of Italy of the 18th century, this massive map is in 15 dissected sheets, each of which is sectionalized and laid on linen. Although Italy was an often-feuding network of loosely aligned kingdoms at this time in its history, this map seems to suggest broad solidarity and emphasizes traditional hierarchical structures - likely a response to the ideals of the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) then destabilizing Europe.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces peninsular Italy, extending north to reach Lake Geneva, Switzerland; south to include all of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica; east to cover the Adriatic Sea and Dalmatian coast. Ships of trade, and of war, populate the waters, which are punctuated by occasional sea monsters. Cartographically, the map derives from J. B. B. D'Anville's (1697 - 1782) 1743 map of Italy, although with significant updates and revisions.

In the lower left there is a dramatic allegorical cartouche, consisting of two female figures. The one on the left wears a corona muralis and sits (almost) on the Earth, likely representing the power of Rome or possibly the Holy See. Opposite this figure, on the right, another female figure represents the science of cartography. The babies, Romulus and Remus, suckle at a she-wolf in the lower right, alluding to Rome. Two putti hold aloft the papal crest of Pope Pius VI (1717 - 1799).

Historical Context

As this map went to the presses, Italy was a patchwork of diverse states and territories, each with its own governance. The French Revolution was reverberating throughout Europe, with significant implications for the Italian states. The northern territories, like the Duchy of Milan and the Republic of Genoa, felt the direct impact of the neighboring French Revolutionary activities. Meanwhile, more centralized regions like the Papal States and the southern Kingdom of Naples sought to defend their sovereignty and limit the spread of revolutionary ideologies. Jacobin-inspired committees began to appear in several major Italian cities, advocating for reforms and questioning the existing feudal and monarchical orders. The political and social atmosphere was charged, with Italian states navigating the delicate balance between tradition and transformative ideas. In 1796, three years after it was printed, Napoleon invaded Italy in the First Italian Campaign, formally bringing the French Revolution to Italy.

Publication History and Census

This map was compiled by Giovanni Maria Cassini and printed in 1793 in Rome by the Calcografia Camerale. There is only one edition. The map is well represented in European institutions, particularly in Italy, were we see more than 5 examples, but quite uncommon in both institutions outside of Italy and on the market.