Stefano Scolari

Stefano Mozzi Scolari (* around 1612 in Calvisano near Brescia ; † between June 2 and 7, 1691 in Venice ) was an editor and printer who worked from 1644 to 1687 and whose workshop was at San Zulian all insegna delle tre Virtù , not far from St. Mark's Square . He often signed as "Steffano". His real name was "Stefano Mozzo detto Scolari", so he was only called "Scolari".

Life

Scolari was one of the two sons of Domenico Mozzi and Isabeta, nee Michel Scolari, who came from Bologna . His brother "Iseppo" (Giuseppe, † 1739) stayed in his native Calvisano. He, in turn, had four daughters and an unspecified number of sons, which prompted Stefano in 1667 to look after his impoverished brother, who was overwhelmed by the number of children, and to leave him land near Calvisano. He supported his nieces and nephews with donations of money. In the will that Stefano Scolari drew up in 1691 shortly before his death, three nieces and six nephews are named.

Stefano spent most of his life in the municipality of San Zulian, on the Mercerie , the connecting streets between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. Most of Venice's numerous printing works were located there, at a time when the city was the stronghold of printing and the book trade . It is possible that he was running his workshop as early as 1642, because in a compilation of the Nobili , Cittadini and Artefici , a “Stefano intagiador”, that is, a copperplate engraver, appears this year . This also records a grown man in his home, i.e. someone between 18 and 50 years old, then an 'old man' over 50 years old, two women over 18 years old, and three minors. Possibly other people lived in his house due to the widespread subletting.

Memberships and main fields of activity

Scolari was one of the first among those who specialized entirely in illustrated prints, that is, did not publish any texts, and who also did not trade in books. The only exception is: Dichiaratione del Raccordo per beneficio delle lagune di Venetia dato da me Steffano Mozzi Scolari bresciano in conformità del dissegno presentato al Magistrato eccellentissimo dell'Acque il di 8th luglio 1677. nel qual si dimostrano le operationi da farsi medes per servitio , which appeared in 1677. Apparently he was personally interested in the subject dealt with in it, the Venice lagoon , so a watercolor map was created on four sheets. It was dated July 8, 1677. Scolari had created it himself to be submitted to the competent water authority, the Savi esecutori alle acque . In addition to the most recent cut for the Brenta, it also included the Canal de l'Oselino in Mestre . The debate about this masterpiece has been handed down.

Since he never deviated from the above rule, he was never a member of the Arte degli Stampatori e librai , the guild of printers and booksellers. Its three main fields were the reproduction of already published copper plates, especially those of geographical content. He then worked with Giacomo Piccini and Giovanni Merlo as editors and printers of pictures that he himself had commissioned. Finally he published works he had created himself. He edited maps and images of contemporary urban life and related events.

Between 1660 and 1683 he belonged to the Guild dei Pittori (since when exactly is not recorded), he can be found there as one of the "miniadori". Although he was preselected several times for offices by vote ("ballottato"), he was only elected once. On November 14th, 1683 he was supposed to be the guest of the guild. But after a month he preferred to resign and pay the fine of five ducats provided for such cases . But he also took part regularly in the meetings of the Capitoli of the Scuola del Santissimo Sacramento near San Zulian, over more than three decades, namely between August 25, 1660 and April 26, 1691. Created with Francesco Busetto and Giacomo Zini he an inventory of the important book shop of Giovanni Battista Scalvinoni.

Wills of 1668, 1672 and 1691

An important source of Scolari's life are the three testaments that he left. They prove that his business was thriving and that his nephew Stefano was a dealer specializing in engravings. His first will is from 1668; it originated when he fell seriously ill while visiting Brescia. In addition to the aforementioned help for his brother's family, he appointed his wife Laura Bittelli as heir. But she should only have the benefit of the print shop if Daniel Baselli should take over. According to the will of 1668, the copper and printing plates alone had a value of over 6000 ducats, in the will of 1672 it was still 4200 ducats. In addition, there were 1,600 or 3,200 other ducats that were invested. Real estate ownership was not recorded in either of the wills.

Already bedridden and seriously ill, he dictated his third and last will on June 2, 1691. Again he supported his brother's family, of whose four daughters Margarita, Marta, Lucia and Camilla only three were still alive - Margarita is no longer mentioned - and of whom Camilla was still unmarried. While the two married nieces each received 150 ducats, Camilla was to be endowed with 1000 ducats (“doverano servir per sua dotte”), and also received 150 ducats. He also sent 150 ducats each to his sons Carlo, Menego, Steffano, Francesco, Andrea and Giacomin.

Death, inheritance, burial

Scolari was buried in San Zulian. While the members of the Scuole usually had their dead buried in front of their own altar in order to transfer the human remains to the island of Sant'Adriano when space became too narrow, Scolari had himself buried in a separate grave. His wife Laura Bittelli died barely four years later, on April 12, 1695. While in the first two wills the nephews Stefano (1662–1739) and Domenico should inherit the printing company, it was now the great-nephew Giuseppe (1684–1734) who the company continued, as evidenced by an entry from 1711. The bottega of Daniel Biselli, who for unknown reasons received part of the inheritance, was right next door. He was born on December 28, 1638, in the parish of San Giovanni in Bragora between San Zulian and the Arsenal . He made his will on December 10, 1718. After Giuseppe's death in 1734, his half-brother from his second marriage, Alessandro (1719–1759), inherited him . The business was continued by the Scolari heirs after 1759.

Works (selection)

• Viaggio da Venetia a Costantinopoli per marre e per terra, et insieme quello di Terra Santa. Cioè città, castelli, porti, golfi, isole, monti, fiumi e mari. Opera utile, à mercanti, marinari, et à studiosi di geografia .
• Regole per imparar à disegnar i corpi humani divise in doi libri delineati dal famoso pittor Giacomo Palma , Venice 1659.
• Imagines acierum, ac preliorum Veteris Testamenti a me picture artificio re-presentatas tibi magne dux Cosme dedic , Venice 1660.

swell

• Venice State Archives , Giudici di Petizion, Inventari , busta 416/81 n.4; Giustizia Vecchia, Parti e capitoli , b. 147 and 204; Dieci Savi alle decime, Catastico 1661, San Marco , reg. 419, n.244 a. a.
• Brescia State Archives, Notarile Brescia, notaio Marcandoni Tadeo q. Attilio , filza n. 6045, n. 127, Notarile Brescia, notaio Piovanelli Giovanni q. Giuseppe , filza n. 6685, n ° 73 (the names of the parents) a. a.

literature

• Alessia Giachery: Stefano Mozzi Scolari “stampadore e miniatore di stampe di rame” in 17th century Venice: life, activity and successors , pp. 93–116 (Bibliothecae.it 2012).

Remarks

1. ↑ digitized version .
2. ↑ Alessia Giachery: Stefano Mozzi Scolari “stampadore e miniatore di stampe di rame” in 17th century Venice: life, activity and successors , 2012, pp. 93–116, here: p. 103.