Summary
Pierre Mortier:Novigrado, ville des Venetiens, dans la Dalmatie/ Cataro, ville des Venetiens, dans la Dalmatie-Views of Novigrad and Kotor
These Mortier views of Novigrad and Kotor are taken entirely from Georg Braun's Topography published in 1618. On the view of Novigrad, we see the fort before its reconstruction. At the time this view was created, Novigrad was one of the most important Venetian fortresses in northern Dalmatia. In 1647, it came under the rule of the Turks, but the following year it was occupied by the Venetian general Foscolo. On that occasion, the fortress was badly damaged. This view shows the Novigrad fortress without any visible damage, which does not correspond to the condition of the time when this view was created. The fort had a quadrangular floor plan with round towers at the corners. Below the fort you can see the suburbs, which were not large, but were also protected by forts. After the fall of the Venetian Republic (1797), the fortress was completely abandoned. Kotor (today Montenegro), was the capital of Venetian Albania. It survived several Turkish attacks (1492, 1539, 1569 and 1657). In accordance with its strategic importance, this view primarily shows its fortification system, while the author did not pay any attention to the depiction of the city's civilian life. Overpowering ships are marked in the harbor, as a symbol of strength and invincibility.
Pierre Mortier (1661-1711), Dutch publisher and coppersmith who worked in Amsterdam during the second half of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. Publisher of Sanson, Jailot, de Fer and de Wit maps.
Biblos Newsletter
New titles, special copies and quiet recommendations from the antiquarian bookshop.