Moorman, Gloria (2019) Italy from the armchair: the publication of town atlases from the sixteenth-century city book to Joan Blaeu’s theatrum italiae (1663-1682). PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This dissertation examines the town atlas (city book, stedenboek, stadteatlas, atlante urbano) as an innovative bound compilation that emerged in early centres for printing in the Low Countries, Germany, and Italy during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It argues in particular that the publication of town atlases, meant to herald civic pride and promote cultural achievements, was deeply connected to contemporary political developments. The processes of exchange and re-interpretation at work at the stages of creation, dissemination, and reception of city books allow us to appreciate more fully the role of the early modern publisher as an important intermediary capable of influencing public opinion.

The first two contextualizing chapters trace the development of the city book at the intersection of travel guides, city descriptions, and (inter)related cartographic publications. The narrative projected outwardly by these works depended on the particular combination of textual and visual elements proposed by printers and publishers. I have, therefore, throughout this study complemented my own book-historical perspective with approaches to urban iconography from both an historical-cartographical and art-historical point of view.

Chapters three and four present for the first time the full publication history of Joan Blaeu’s Theatrum Italiae (1663-82). Joan and his son Pieter Blaeu sought to unite the interests of local contributors from all over Italy with the political agenda of rivalling courts that promised financial and creative support in exchange for the favourable portrayal of their domains in this multi-volume town atlas. As a result, the Theatrum Italiae increasingly functioned as a vehicle asserting the worldly power of its patrons, whilst ownership of the work equally signalled individual erudition and social prestige. Accordingly, over the course of its ensuing editions the work most successfully conquered international audiences thanks to its highly informed perspective on contemporary politics and persistent appreciation as a status symbol.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GA Mathematical geography. Cartography
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cartography -- Germany -- History -- 16th century, Cartography -- Germany -- History -- 17th century, Cartography -- Italy -- History -- 16th century, Cartography -- Italy -- History -- 17th century
Official Date:	May 2019
Dates:	Date Event May 2019 Published
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Centre for the Study of the Renaissance
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Lines, David ; De Smet, Ingrid
Sponsors:	Centre for Arts Doctoral Research Excellence (CADRE)
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	376 leaves: illustrations, maps, plates.
Language:	eng

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