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Spectacular Painted Map of the Black Sea
An exceptional example of a Giuseppe Baseggio painted map of the Black Sea in its original painted frame.
The Baseggio family of artists were noted painters of nautical scenes and maps, with their series of paintings related to the Black Sea and its ports perhaps the most famous of their works.
This extraordinary painted map depicts the Black Sea after the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The shows the new territories added to the Russian Empire, notably the Black Sea, Crimea, and the strategic fortresses at Azov and Yenikale. These territories were key to Russia's power in the coming years as they provided better access to the sea and strategic trade ports.
As such, these maps feature many water or maritime-related locations. In the maps that show the ports in the Black Sea (such as Samson) or Crimea (such as Jenikale), there is specific illustration of the coastline and depths of surrounding water to aid in navigation.
This map was done by Italian cartographer Giuseppe Baseggio and his son. All maps are signed Maggior (or an abbreviation "M") Baseggio. Maggior, which can be translated to "major or elder," was a title used by the eldest sibling to distinguish themselves from their kin. As such, the inclusion of maggior indicates this work was done by Giuseppe rather than his brother.
Rarity
All Baseggio painted maps are very rare. We are aware of a single surviving example at Castello Miramare in Trieste, Italy.
Baseggio also created a printed map which seems to be the base model for this painting. The printed map is also quite rare on the market.
Giacomo Baseggio (Venice 1740? - before 1789) and by his son Antonio (Venice 1760/1765 -?) worked in collaboration with Antonio Piemontesi known as il Baseggio (Vienna 1737 - Livorno 1813).
The Baseggios wereactive in Venice, Livorno, and Rome in the 18th century and early 19th Century. They are renowned Livorno view painters of ancient cities and ports of the Levant, and they made nautrical maps and natural views. There output included paintings of the Black Sea and its ports The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard (later Leopold II of Austria), son of Maria Theresa of Habsburg and Francis I of Lorraine, commissioned over 40 works by the Baseggio Family. This collection was taken to Vienna in 1790 when the Grand Duke became the left Florence and became the Emperor of Austria (Holy Roman Emperor).
It is possible that these Baseggios are related to the Baseggio Family of artists from Rovigo.
Leopold II's collection of the works of Baseggio, can currently be found at Castello Miramare (near Trieste, Italy), the spectacular waterfront chateau and gardens constructed by Archduke Maximilian shortly after he became Emperor of Mexico. Maximillian brought the collection to Trieste from Vienna when he was named Rear Admiral and Commander of the Habsburg Navy. Maximillian decorated the walls of Villa Lazarovich, his first residence in Trieste with the paintings. During the planning for the construction of Castello Miramonte and following Maximillian's appointment as the Emperor of Mexico, he gave very specific instructions for the use of these paintings to to embellish the luxurious rooms of Castello Miramare, upon its completion.
