Giovanni Battista Nolli Paintings

Giovanni Battista Nolli, known also as Giambattista Nolli, was an Italian architect and surveyor best known for his accurate and detailed plan of Rome, the 'Pianta Grande di Roma,' which remains one of the most famous works in cartography and had a profound impact on the field of urban planning. Born in 1701 in Como, Italy, Nolli was trained in the robust intellectual climate of the Enlightenment, a period that encouraged precision, order, and empirical research.

Nolli's most famous work, the Nolli Map, was published in 1748 after decades of meticulous surveying and engraving. This large-scale map of Rome represented every building, street, and alley with precise measurements and even depicted public spaces such as the interiors of churches, which were considered part of the public realm. The map's significance lies not just in its detail but also in its innovative approach to representing urban space, blurring the lines between private and public and making it a valuable tool for understanding urban form and the relationship between buildings and their environment.

Nolli had moved to Rome in the 1730s, where he began his surveying work. His skills as both an architect and a surveyor were crucial in the execution of the 'Pianta Grande.' The project was commissioned by Pope Benedict XIV, who desired an accurate map of Rome for administrative and development purposes. The map, consisting of 12 copperplate engravings, measured approximately six by seven feet when assembled, making it one of the largest and most detailed maps of the time.

The 'Nolli Map' has been an essential resource for architects, historians, and scholars for centuries, providing a snapshot of 18th-century Rome. It has been used to study the city's evolution and to inform restoration and conservation efforts. Giovanni Battista Nolli's legacy extends beyond cartography; his work has influenced urban studies and the way we perceive public and private spaces within the context of a city.

Giovanni Battista Nolli passed away in 1756, leaving behind a legacy of precision and innovation in map-making. His 'Pianta Grande di Roma' is more than just a map; it is a historic document that offers insights into the social, cultural, and urban fabric of Rome during the Enlightenment. Nolli's work remains an extraordinary example of the intersection of art, science, and the built environment, and continues to be studied and admired today.