Italy - Modena, Reggio, Mirandola, Carpi, Correggio, Novellara, Sassuolo, Formigine, Vignola, Pavullo.; Antonio Zatta - Parte del Modenese, che comprende I Ducati di Modena, Reggio, e Mirandola, il Principato di Carpi, - 1781-1800

Ancient Map

Original antique geographic map: “Part of Modenese, which includes the Duchies of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola, the Principality of Carpi, and Correggio, and the Province of Frignano. Of new projection” Antonio Zatta – Venice, 1793
Dimensions: 47 × 35.5 cm

Beautiful and detailed copper-engraved map of the second half of the eighteenth century, published in Venice by Antonio Zatta (1722-1804), one of the most important and refined Italian editors and cartographers of the period. The map comes from the famous Atlante Novissimo, the most famous and ambitious work by Zatta, regarded as among the most beautiful and complete atlases ever produced in Italy in the eighteenth century.

Content of the map
The map depicts with great precision and rich detail the entire Modenese region and the historic territories of the old Este state:
• Duchy of Modena
• Duchy of Reggio
• Duchy of Mirandola
• Principality of Carpi and Correggio
• Province of Frignano

The political and administrative boundaries are highlighted with period watercolor wash (pink, green and other delicate tones). Numerous localities are clearly labeled: Modena, Reggio, Mirandola, Carpi, Correggio, Novellara, Sassuolo, Formigine, Vignola, Pavullo, and hundreds of smaller centers, castles, parishes, and villages.

The cartography is extremely accurate: rivers (Secchia, Panaro, Enza, Po), rolling foothills and mountains of the Apennines, roads, boundaries with surrounding territories (Mantuan, Parmense, Bolognese, Toscano) and a rich toponymy. In the lower right corner sits an elegant decorative cartouche with floral garlands and fruits, typical of Zatta’s refined style, containing the full title and the inscription “Venezia 1793 – Presso Antonio Zatta.” Also present are the scale in Italian miles and the engravers’ names (G. Zuliani inc. – G. Pitteri scr.).

Importance and rarity
Antonio Zatta represents the pinnacle of eighteenth-century Venetian cartography: his maps combine graphic elegance, scientific precision, and a refined decorative taste that makes them particularly prized by collectors. The Atlante Novissimo (published in four volumes between 1779 and 1785, with later reissues and updates) remains highly sought after today.

This 1793 edition (update or reprint of the original 1783 plate) is particularly interesting because it documents the Este territories just before the radical Napoleonic transformations. Zatta’s maps of Italian regional areas at this level of detail with original period coloring are increasingly rare on the market, especially in good condition.

A highly charming specimen for collectors, ideal for enthusiasts of antique cartography, the history of Emilia-Romagna, and collectors of eighteenth-century Venetian prints.