ST. PETERSBURG IMPERIAL COLLGE RUSSIA 1780ca REMONDINI ANTIQUE OPTICAL VIEW ANTIQUE COPPER ENGRAVED OPTICAL VIEW OF ST. PETERSBURG old times rare books and maps (20100) 100% positiveSeller's other itemsSeller's other itemsContact seller US $127.50 ST. PETERSBURG IMPERIAL COLLGE RUSSIA 1780ca REMONDINI ANTIQUE OPTICAL VIEW Description Prospectus Collegiorum Imperialium et Fundorum Orientalium Mercatorum Petersburgi / Vista de los Collegios Imperiales, y de l'Almazen de las Mercaderias Orientales a Petersbourg. Description: Striking and highly detailed fine unusual 1780 approx. Remondini's copper engraved so-called optical view of the Imperial College at St. Petersburg with the warehouses of the Oriental Merchants. The scene is filled with activity, carriages and horses. The Vues d'optique were specifically developed to provide the illusion of depth when viewed through a zograscope, also known as an "optical diagonal machine" or viewers with similar functions. Date: 1780 approx. ( undated ) Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 46,6 x 33,1 Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Plate old original colored. Short top and lower margins. Wide lateral margins. Small foxing and browning. Small tears. Conditions are as you can see in the images. Mapmaker: Remondini (fl. c. 1657 - 1861) were a family of printers who worked originally based in Bassano del Grappa, near Venice. Giovanni Antonio Remondini (1634-1711), the family patriarch, was born in Padua in 1634. In 1657, he took a home the main square of Bassano where he opened a shop drapes, wool, silk and iron tools. He also sold woodcuts of saints which proved popular with local farmers who believed they bought spiritual protection. When Giovanni died in 1711 his printing business fell into the hands of his son, Joseph Remondini. In 1750 Joseph expended the family business into Venice proper. Having several paper factories established by Giovanni Antonio, the Remondini were in a position to undercut competitors in Venice. The Remondini employed a number of talented engravers, including Paolo Santini, an Abbot who specialized in sacred images as well as cartography. Their corpus includes several beautifully produced atlases, though, cartographically speaking, little in the way of original work. The family fell into decline following the Napoleonic invasions, finally closing their doors in 1861. Most of the Remondini family's work is today preserved in the Museum of Bassano del Grappa and the Piccolo Remondini Museum of Vicenza.