The 'Ponte dei Pugni', Venice, with a 'War of the Fist'

LOVISA, Domenico.

Veduta del Canale e Chiesa di S. Barnaba colla guerra de Pugni.
Venice: Lovisa, c.1717. Coloured etching. 320 x 415mm.

A view of the Ponte dei Pugni, near Campo San Barnaba, Dorsoduro, named from the ancient tradition depicted here, the Guerra dei pugni ('Wars of the Fist'): two opposing factions, the Castellani of San Pietro di Castello and the Nicolotti of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, would fight for control of the bridge. The contest was banned in 1705 after one degenerated into a knife fight. However today the bridge still has four marble footprints marking the starting positions of the war. Published in Lovisa's 'Il Gran Teatro di Venezia', which contained 122 engravings illustrating the city and major arts works of Venetian artists.


Stock ID : 14157