1728 Venice – Henri Abraham Chatelain – Hand-Colored Folio Map – “Carte du Plan de Venise”
Will be sent tube rolled
Item Description
Measures 21x17
Offered is an original hand-colored engraved map of Venice, published circa 1728 by Henri Abraham Chatelain in his monumental Atlas Historique.
This striking bird’s-eye view shows the entire city of Venice floating in the lagoon, with every island, canal, harbor, ship, and fortification meticulously engraved and beautifully hand-colored in the period.
Chatelain’s Venice maps are among the finest and most detailed 18th-century views of the city ever produced, combining precise cartography with artistic elegance.
About the Cartographer
Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684–1743) was a French-Dutch engraver, publisher, and cartographer working in Amsterdam. His Atlas Historique, published between 1705–1720s, is regarded as one of the most important illustrated atlases of the early Enlightenment.
His works are prized for:
• Exceptional engraving quality
• Rich period coloring
• Decorative elegance
• Accurate urban geography
Map Details
Title:Carte du Plan de Venise, l’état de sa noblesse, et ses differens degrez…
Cartographer: Henri Abraham Chatelain
Date: Circa 1728
Source:Atlas Historique
Technique: Copperplate engraving with original hand color
Place of Publication: Amsterdam
Subject: Venice, Italy
Condition
This example is in excellent antique condition, especially for an early-18th-century map.
✔ Original vertical centerfold (as issued)
✔ Rich, vibrant hand-color
✔ Clean plate impression
✔ Light toning and minor foxing consistent with age
✔ No modern restoration or reproduction
The sheet presents beautifully for framing.
Why This Piece Matters
This map is:
• A prime example of Golden Age Dutch-French cartography
• One of the most attractive 18th-century Venice plans
• A historically accurate record of Venice at the height of its maritime power
• A highly collectible, display-ready antique
Examples reside in major institutional collections including:
• Bibliothèque nationale de France
• British Library
• University map libraries
Authenticity Guarantee
This map is guaranteed to be:
✔ An original 18th-century engraving
✔ Printed on period laid paper
✔ Not a reproduction, facsimile, or later restrike