Map of Florence (Veduta della Catena)

Map of Florence (Veduta della Catena)

At only two feet by four feet, the Map of Florence (Veduta della Catena) engraving depicts an intricate city view of Florence, Italy. Expressive, wavy lines are used to denote water, while cross-hatching and linear styles are used to give buildings and landscapes depth and volume. The perspective of the viewer is that of an observer standing on a hill above the city looking down. In fact, there is an artist in the bottom right corner of the map sketching the city from a similar vantage point. Similar oblique birds-eye views of cities were created throughout the Middle Ages to capture realistic, detailed representations of the “normal experience of an individual” in a local area (Harvey, 1987). This city view is distinctly divided into a foreground, middle ground, and background. The foreground shows day-to-day activities on a human scale, including fishing, boating, and horseback riding. The middle ground is occupied by the city center of Florence, which is enclosed by a tall, crenellated wall and also bounded on the near side by the river, with bridges leading into the city. The city center is densely packed with buildings, though few people are present, and the entire map centers on the cathedral. The tall dome of the cathedral draw the viewer’s eye upward to the background of the map, which is dominated by sparsely populated rolling hills fading backward to tall, angular mountains. This city view of Florence showcases several features that make cities great, according to Botero (1588). These include substantial fortifications, pleasing natural scenery, access to waterways for transport and trade, and a consolidated city center. The entire map is enclosed by a linked chain with a three-dimensional padlock in the upper left corner within the frame of the map. The chain creates the illusion of depth while also highlighting the economic, political, and cultural value of Florence. Containing the entire architectural framework of the city, the chain emphasizes the importance of preserving the artistry of Florence as well as the city’s role as a center of trade and seat of power in Central Italy (Altcappenberg, 1994).

Francesco Rosselli

Single map

Kreuer, Schulze Altcappenberg, and Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin--Preussischer Kulturbesitz. Kupferstichkabinett--Sammlung Der Zeichnungen Und Druckgraphik. Veduta Della Catena, Fiorenza = Die Grosse Ansicht Von Florenz : Essener Bearbeitung Der Grossen Ansicht Von Florenz Des Berliner Kupferstichkabinetts : Der Kettenplan. Berlin: Wasmuth, 1998.

1485x1500

engraving

Special Collections, Carleton College, Northfield, MN

fadelye

Italian

City view

Firenze

Harvey, P. D. A. “Local and Regional Cartography in Medieval Europe.” In History of Cartography Volume I, edited by J. B. Harley and David Woodward, 464-501. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987.
Altcappenberg, Hein-Th Schulze. "The great view of Florence (The "Chain Plan")." In The Berlin Kupferstichkabinett: A collection handbook, edited by Alexander Dückers. Berlin: Hatje Cantz, 1994.
"La Veduta della Catena – Florence and its Monuments." Google Arts and Culture, accessed June 1, 2018. https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/JAIiVU6eaWEIJQ