Festa della Sensa (zevende gedeelte)

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 375 mm x breedte 270 mm

Art Historical Context

**Festa della Sensa (vende gedeelte)** by Jost Amman a vibrant moment from Venice's historic *Festa della Sensa or Feast of the Ascension, as the seventh part of a multi-sheet series. Dated 1679 and measuring 375 mm high by 270 mm wide on paper, this print likely showcases the grandeur of the annual procession, where the Doge of Venice led elaborate ceremonies from St. Mark's Basilica to the Lido lagoon, symbolizing the city's "marriage to the sea Amman, a renowned 16th-century Swiss-German engraver known for his intricate woodcuts and book illustrations, excelled in documenting costumes, architecture, and festivities with meticulous detail. Printed on paper, the medium allowed for precise reproduction of Baroque-era opulence—think ornate gondolas, cheering crowds, and symbolic rituals—making such works accessible beyond Venice's elite. Though Amman died decades earlier, this 1679 edition reflects the enduring popularity of his designs in Northern Europe, where Dutch and German publishers avidly distributed views of Italian spectacles. The "zevende gedeelte" (seventh part) invites viewers to piece together the full pageant, highlighting the festival's role in affirming Venice's maritime power during its Golden Age. This artwork offers a window into 17th-century cultural exchange, blending Renaissance precision with later printmaking innovations for a timeless celebration of tradition and spectacle.

About the Artist

Jost Amman · 1539–1591

Jost Amman (1539–1591) was a Swiss-born woodcut designer, engraver, and illustrator who became one of the most prolific and influential graphic artists of sixteenth-century Germany, producing an output of extraordinary range and technical virtuosity that shaped the visual culture of the later Reformation era. Born in Zurich, Amman moved to Nuremberg around 1560, the city that had been the center o...