Rare Italian Engraving of Battle of Lepanto

"Il Vero Ordine et Modo, Tenuto dalle Armate Cristiana et Turchescha, nella Bataglia, che fu ali. 7. Ottobrio, 1571. Il Giorno di Sa. Giustina...", Camocio, Giovanni Francesco

This engraving depicts the Battle of Lepanto, waged between the Holy League and the Ottoman Empire on October 7, 1571. The battle was a decisive defeat for the Ottoman Empire, and prevented the Ottomans from further advancing into the Mediterranean. It is estimated that the Ottoman Empire lost over 20,000 men and 180 ships due to capture and sinking. Although the Ottoman Empire quickly rebuilt ships for their navy, it took many years before they were able to train sufficient sailors, soldiers and oarsmen to man them.

The line of Christian fleets is shown at left with the line of Turkish fleets opposing them at right. Six admiral ships advance towards the Turkish fleet and fire upon them. The mainland of Morea with the city of Patras is visible at top right. There are numerous notes filling the waters describing various aspects of the battle. At bottom is a small vignette of a dragon with a crescent moon on its head, symbolizing Turkey, being ravaged by a Venetian lion and a Hapsburg eagle.

Camocio was associated with the so-called "Lafreri school" of Italian map-makers, a loosely affiliated group of cartographers, mapmakers, engravers, and publishers who worked in the major Italian publishing centers of Rome and Venice, from about 1544 to 1585. Their maps were often compiled into made-to-order composite atlases and are much desired on the market today.

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Condition: B

A dark impression on a bright sheet with a stain at right. There are a few tiny holes along the edges of the image caused by a bit of paper weakness.