ITALY-FLORENCE-PIAZZA DEL DUOMO-BAPTISTERY [Martin ENGELBRECHT, c. 1740]

La veduta della parte avanti del Duomo con S. Giovanni in Firenze. Prospect des vordern theils (…).

Copperplate engraving/etching on hand laid (verge) paper.
Sheet size: 37,2 x 23 cm. Image size: 30 x 20 cm.

From his famous and rare series of 92 views mostly dedicated to the city of Venice, Italy. Published in Augsburg c. 1740.

Made by Martin Engelbrecht after Friedrich Bernhard Werner. Published and engraved by Martin Engelbrecht (1684, Augsburg – 1756, Augsburg), a German Baroque engraver and publisher. He began his career as an artist by the attachment to a local publishing house but had by 1708 moved to Berlin where he was engaged in the designs after Eosander von Goethe of a the Silberbüfett im Ritterall at Berlin and of a porcelain cabinet in Charlotttenberg. Returning to Augsburg he was involved in illustrating a wide variety of works after various artist mainly on subjects connected with the decorative arts. However in 1711 Engelbrecht was again in Berlin working at a fine art publishers with his older brother Christian Engelbrecht (1672-1735). They decided to start their own independent publishing house at Augsburg in 1719 where they produce a wide variety of graphic works. Friedrich Bernhard Werner (1690-1776) was a German draughtsman and engraver of city panorama’s. He first led a rather adventurous life as a soldier, quack, writer and other activities. In 1720 he settled in Augsburg started working with J. Wolff as a designer of city panoramamic views (scenographicus) and travelled all over Europe. He also worked with Martin Engelbrecht and Johann Christian Leopold. Since 1744 he received several royal appointments including since 1744 as the Royal Prusian Scenograpicus at the court of Friederick the Great. He was very succesful.

Condition: Good, given age. Slight discoloration lower right. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: ITALY-FLORENCE-PIAZZA DEL DUOMO-BAPTISTERY

PCOM-A7-29