Venice in Peril Fund has embarked on the restoration of Vincenzo Coronelli’s Terrestrial Globe at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice. This significant project marks the second Coronelli globe restoration undertaken by the Fund, following the successful intervention on a Celestial Globe at the Correr Museum.

The Terrestrial Globe is one of a pair which Coronelli presented to the Republic of Venice in 1689 and, as a prestigious gift, it entails a more luxurious finish than the other globes manufactured by Coronelli’s workshop.   As well as recording the Earth as known to Europeans in the late seventeenth century, the Terrestrial Globe features shipping routes, an elaborate allegory of Venice, a portrait of celebrated admiral and Venetian Doge Francesco Morosini in a cartouche, a tiny self-portrait, and an inscription to Coronelli’s greatest patron, Cardinal César d’Estrées, whose influence had led to Coronelli’s most famous achievement, the creation of two colossal globes for King Louis XIV of France (Bibliothèque Nationale).

Born into a modest Venetian family, Vincenzo Coronelli (1650-1718) joined the Franciscan order as a young man and trained as a mathematical practitioner.  Although he travelled in Italy and France, Coronelli resided most of his life at the Frari where he established the workshop making maps and pairs of globes for sale to subscribers in Italy and Europe.  Coronelli was honoured as Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic, and rose to become briefly head of the Franciscan Order. He is now recognised as Italy’s leading globemaker of the seventeenth century and his work is represented in major international collections.

The present comprehensive conservation treatment is the first intervention on the Terrestrial Globe for over 70 years.  Following detailed analysis and inspection, the intervention entails preventative disinfestation treatment with non-toxic methods to eliminate any wood-boring insects present in the globe and its stand, then cleaning with dry methods to remove surface dirt , before testing to ascertain the best way to remove both yellowing varnish residues and staining. The next procedures will include cleaning the horizon ring, consolidation of the paper on the layer of plaster, infilling, retouching, applying a protective coating as well as an intervention to the pedestal.  The work is conducted by specialist conservators Letizia Satto and Laura Riato in situ at the Marciana Library, home of the globe since Coronelli presented it to the Republic in 1689.

Venice in Peril Fund seeks to raise €19,250 to complete the restoration of this extraordinary Coronelli Terrestrial Globe