Gaetano Zompini

(Italian, 1700 - 1778)

The Arts that go on the streets in the city of Venice - Gaetano Zompini, (Treviso 1700 - Venice 1778). Work published in 1785 when Zompini was already dead.

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

-Illustrated frontispiece:

-Title engraved within an ornate border;

-Index of engravings.

Elegant half-leather binding with spine embossed in gold bearing the title of the work in English "Cries of Venice" engraved in gold.

Each engraving bears at the bottom there is a caption in Venetian and underneath there is an original label in English. Exemplary in fair condition, signs of use and a small part of the spine at the bottom of the neckline.

The first edition was published between 1773 and 1774. In 1735 John Strange , English collector, resident in Venice, purchased the engraving branches after Zompini's death. A first Venice edition in 1785 with the caption in Venetian verse written by the priest Questoni was followed by a London edition containing a free translation into English of the captions in verse, glued to the foot of each engraving (CFR Stefania Maronato, Gaetano Zompini, Venice 1988 , page 294 - The Crafts of Fashion in Venice from the 13th to the 18th).

For his etchings, Zompini was inspired by the collection of drawings by Annibale Carracci entitled The Arts of Bologna, in which street vendors and artisans are depicted. Zompini, in his etchings, was also influenced by the Venetian painting of Pietro Longhi and the comedies of Carlo Goldoni. With these engravings he manages to capture the liveliness of the Venetian alleys.