Gaetano Zompini

(Italian, 1700 - 1778)

The Arts that Travel the City of Venice - Gaetano Zompini, (Treviso 1700 - Venice 1778). Published in 1785, after Zompini's death.

Single volume 360 x 260 mm. 60 copper engravings, 270 x 180 mm + three engravings consisting of:

-Illustrated frontispiece:

-Title engraved within a decorated border;

-Index of engravings.

Elegant half-leather binding with gold-stamped spine bearing the work's title in English "Cries of Venice" inscribed in gold.

Each engraving bears a Venetian caption at the bottom, and beneath it is an original English label. This copy is in fair condition, with signs of use and a small portion of the spine at the bottom.

The first edition was published between 1773 and 1774. In 1735, John Strange, an English collector living in Venice, purchased the copper engravings after Zompini's death. A first edition in Venice in 1785 with the caption in Venetian verse written by the priest Questini was followed by a London edition with a free English translation of the verse captions, pasted at the foot of each engraving (CFR Stefania Maronato, Gaetano Zompini, Venice 1988, p. 294 - The Fashion Professions in Venice from the 13th to the 18th centuries).

Zompini drew inspiration for his etchings from Annibale Carracci's collection of drawings entitled The Arts of Bologna, which depicts street vendors and artisans. Zompini's etchings were also influenced by the Venetian painting of Pietro Longhi and the comedies of Carlo Goldoni. With these engravings, he captured the liveliness of Venice's alleyways.