Galleon at Sea
Dublin Core
Title
Galleon at Sea
Subject
A galleon ship in Giovanna Garzoni's calligraphy book
Description
This calligraphic drawing was created as part of Giovanna Garzoni's "Libro de’ caratteri cancellereschi corsivi," or “Book of Chancery Cursive Letterforms.” Garzoni, an itinerant artist, was born in Ascoli Piceno to a Venetian family and is believed to have moved to Venice during her childhood. While in Venice she received training with the calligraphy instructor Giacomo Rogni. This book may be considered both an exercise book and a portfolio of her skill.
Aoife Cosgrove has shown that the source of this particular image is likely Jan van de Velde the Elder's "A Messieurs de l’Admirauté à Rotterdam," a model published in a writing manual in Rotterdam in 1605. Both the subject and its source reflect Giovanni's global imagination: more than most women of her time, she traveled among international courts in Italy, France, and England where she created representations of circulating objects such as exotic fruits from the Americas and precious Ming vases exported from China.
This exercise also offers insight into the early modern audience of the work. Created in a single, fluid stroke, this calligraphic drawing may have been used as a type of party trick, as proposed by Sheila Barker. At a court gathering, Garzoni may have created the drawing in front of a group of onlookers who followed her swirling lines, guessing at the subject. When her upside-down drawing was complete, Garzoni would have turned the page to reveal her elegant ship. This offered both entertainment to the members of court and proof of Garzoni's artistic skill, possibly attracting future commissions.
Aoife Cosgrove has shown that the source of this particular image is likely Jan van de Velde the Elder's "A Messieurs de l’Admirauté à Rotterdam," a model published in a writing manual in Rotterdam in 1605. Both the subject and its source reflect Giovanni's global imagination: more than most women of her time, she traveled among international courts in Italy, France, and England where she created representations of circulating objects such as exotic fruits from the Americas and precious Ming vases exported from China.
This exercise also offers insight into the early modern audience of the work. Created in a single, fluid stroke, this calligraphic drawing may have been used as a type of party trick, as proposed by Sheila Barker. At a court gathering, Garzoni may have created the drawing in front of a group of onlookers who followed her swirling lines, guessing at the subject. When her upside-down drawing was complete, Garzoni would have turned the page to reveal her elegant ship. This offered both entertainment to the members of court and proof of Garzoni's artistic skill, possibly attracting future commissions.
Creator
Giovanna Garzoni (Ascoli Piceno 1600 – Rome 1670)
Source
- Casale, Gerardo. Giovanna Garzoni: 'Insigne Miniatrice,' 1600-1670. Milan: 1991 (120)
- Barker, Sheila. "Marvellously Gifted: Giovanna Garzoni's First Visit to the Medici Court." Burlington Magazine 160 (2018): 654-659. (657)
- Barker, Sheila. "Galleon at Sea" and "A Messieurs de l’Admirauté à Rotterdam." In "The Immensity of the Universe" in the Art of Giovanna Garzoni, exhibition catalogue edited by Sheila Barker, 120-22. Livorno: Sillabe, 2020.
Publisher
Rome, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, ms. 1117
Date
circa 1617–1622
Contributor
Dana Hogan
Rights
Rome, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca
Relation
Modeled after "A Messieurs de l’Admirauté à Rotterdam" by
Jan van de Velde the Elder (Antwerp 1568 – Haarlem 1623)
(engraved by Simon Frisius, also known as Simon Wynhoutsz. de Vries)
Jan van de Velde the Elder (Antwerp 1568 – Haarlem 1623)
(engraved by Simon Frisius, also known as Simon Wynhoutsz. de Vries)
Format
in: Giovanna Garzoni, Libro de’ caratteri cancellereschi corsivi, fol. 44r
black ink on prepared paper, 29.0 x 20.5 cm (closed); 29.0 x 41.5 cm (open)
black ink on prepared paper, 29.0 x 20.5 cm (closed); 29.0 x 41.5 cm (open)
Type
Calligraphic drawing
Identifier
ms. 1117
Coverage
Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome, Italy
Files
Collection
Citation
Giovanna Garzoni (Ascoli Piceno 1600 – Rome 1670), “Galleon at Sea,” ARTHIST 89S - Visual Culture of Venice - Fall 2020, accessed October 22, 2026, https://venice.dahvc.org/fall-2020/items/show/1.