1776 Santini Map of Lithuania and Belarus

Amazing map of Belarus just after the First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

This is a 1776 Paolo Santini map of Lithuania and Belarus. The map depicts voivodeships (provinces) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which existed from 1569-1795. Stretching from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Grand Duché de Lithuanie) to the Government of Bielogrod (Gouvernement de Bielogrod) and from Livonia (Livonie) and the Government of Nowogrod to the Palatinate (Voidodeship) of Nowogrodek (Palatinat de Nowogrodek) and the Gouvernment of Little Russia (Gouvernment de la Petite Russie). Other labeled regions include the Territory of Witepsk (Vitebsk), the Polock Voivodship (Palat. de Polock), the Palatinate of Minsk (Palatinat de Minsk) and the Palatinate of Livonia (Palat. de Livonie). Numerous cities, towns, and villages are depicted as well as myriad lakes and rivers.

This map was drawn by Santini from a map that was originally by the Homann Heirs a year earlier. Two years before, in 1773, the First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was completed. In 1772, Russian, Prussian, and Austrian troops simultaneously invaded the Commonwealth and occupied territory agreed upon among themselves six months prior to the invasion. The occupiers were delighted with their good fortune and expansion at the expense of the Commonwealth, and forced the ratification of the cession through the Polish parliament in September 1773. The Commonwealth lost approximately thirty percent of its territory, half its population, and eighty percent of its foreign trade production. In the following years, Poland was partitioned twice more, eventually leading to complete disappearance of an independent Polish state in 1795. An independent Poland would not reappear until after World War I.

This map was drawn by Paolo Santini and published by Giuseppe Antonio Remondini in 1776.

Cartographer

Paolo Santini (1729 - June 1793) and his brother Francois [Francesco] Santini (fl. 1776 - 1784) were Italian engravers and map publishers based in Venice. The brothers were born in Venice. They are best known for their Atlas Universel dressé sur les meilleures cartes modernes, a grand atlas presenting state-of-the-art French cartography to a Venetian audience. They drew on the cream of 18th Century French cartographers such as Robert de Vaugondy, Jaillot, De L'Isle, and D'Anville. Their atlas was published by the Remondini house in Venice, who purchased the plates and publishing rights from the Santinis in 1781. Paolo was a priest of the Church of Santa Maria Formosa and a professor of architecture in the public schools of Venice. Moreover, he was an ingenious mechanic and invented a large drill used in the Venetian Arsenal for boring cannons, as well as a cutting instrument designed to verify reliably, under any circumstances, the authenticity of licenses issued to merchant captains. With a zigzag cut made in a single movement of the handle, the original document was divided from its matching counterpart. He appears to have been the primary engraver of the two brothers as well. In addition to maps, he also illustrated and engraved architectural plates. He died in Belluno in June 1793, having traveled there to attend the wedding of a close relative. Francesco is believed to have traveled more broadly, including maintaining an office in Paris, where he purchased many of the maps that would inform the brothers' work. He is known to have associated with several French cartographers of the late 18th century, including Rigobert Bonne. His offices in Paris were located at Rue St. Justine pres de L'Eglise.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Original press mark visible. Blank on verso.

References

OCLC 605178916.