Giuseppe Vasi's Nuova Pianta di Roma (1781): Cartography, Prints, and Power in Settecento Rome

Abstract

The map of Rome published in 1781 by Giuseppe Vasi, one of the most successful printmakers active in that city in the eighteenth century, is considered something of a failure. This article reevaluates Vasi's Nuova pianta in light of contemporary mapmaking practice, Vasi's ambitions with regard to his larger corpus, and his intended audience—an inclusive mix of Grand Tourists and prominent Italians. Vasi's map might not embody radical innovation on a technical or artistic level, but is still a highly revealing window onto the art and business of printmaking in Settecento Roman culture.