Italian Gallery

Byzantine architecture: representation of the Virgin between Saint John and Saint Mark

LRI4690002 Byzantine architecture: representation of the Virgin between Saint John and Saint Mark. Mosaic on gold background. 13th century. Basilica di San Marco (Basilica of San Marco), Venice by Byzantine, (13th century); Church of San Marco, Florence, Italy; (add.info.: Byzantine architecture: representation of the Virgin between Saint John and Saint Mark. Mosaic on gold background. 13th century. Basilica di San Marco (Basilica of San Marco), Venice); Luisa Ricciarini; out of copyright

© Luisa Ricciarini / Bridgeman Images

View of Venice, 1500 (woodcut)

3557439 View of Venice, 1500 (woodcut) by Barbari, Jacopo de (1440/50-a.1515); 132.72x277.5 cm; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN, USA; (add.info.: Published by Anton Kolb
Woodcut from six blocks on six sheets of paper
Long before the advent of balloons and other aircraft, Jacopo de Barbari created a bird's-eye view of Venice through the power of his intellect and imagination. The mural-size print was unprecedented in scale when it was published in the year 1500. Every building, canal, and open square is documented here. One imagines Barbari and his assistants climbing up the city's 103 bell towers in order to survey the dense urban landscape. The View of Venice also features the maritime activities that made the city an international center of trade. Mercury, the god of commerce, presides over the city, while watchful Neptune, god of the seas, rides his dolphin through the harbor.
The incredible advance in the presentation and dissemination of information makes this the Google Earth of its day. The View is a landmark in the history of printmaking. It was printed in sections from six carved wooden blocks. Each part is so big that the individual sheets of paper were the largest ever produced in Europe at that time. When published, the View was very expensive, and most examples were probably displayed on walls. The result is that only a dozen of the original edition are known to survive. Mia's example, acquired in 2010, was the first to change hands in 55 years; it is one of just three in America and is in unusually good condition.); A© Minneapolis Institute of Art; The John R. Van Derlip Fund; Italian, out of copyright

© Minneapolis Institute of Art The John R. Van Derlip Fund / Bridgeman Images

First World War: " the offensive of the Piave in June 1918" Last offensive and great defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army - (WWI: Battle of the Piave River or Battle of the Solstice or Battle of Middle June or Second Battle of)

ELD4867153 First World War: " the offensive of the Piave in June 1918" Last offensive and great defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army - (WWI: Battle of the Piave River or Battle of the Solstice or Battle of Middle June or Second Battle of the Piave River on June 1918) Illustration by Tancredi Scarpelli (1866-1937) from " Storia d'Italia" (History of Italy) by Paolo Giudici, 1930 Private Collection by Scarpelli, Tancredi (1866-1937); (add.info.: First World War: " the offensive of the Piave in June 1918" Last offensive and great defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army - (WWI: Battle of the Piave River or Battle of the Solstice or Battle of Middle June or Second Battle of the Piave River on June 1918) Illustration by Tancredi Scarpelli (1866-1937) from " Storia d'Italia" (History of Italy) by Paolo Giudici, 1930 Private Collection); Photo © The Holbarn Archive

© © The Holbarn Archive / Bridgeman Images