MORTIER, PIERRE: VIEW OF NOVIGRAD AND KOTOR

These Mortier’s views of Novigrad and Kotor were directly copied from the Topography of Georga Brauna published in 1618. The view shows the fortress before its reconstruction. At the time of creation of this view Novigrad was one of the most important Venetian fortresses of the northern Dalmatia. In 1647, it was captured by the Turks, but  already in the year that followed it was retaken by the Venetian general Foscolo. In that occasion the fortress was severely damaged. The view shows the fortress of Novigrad without visible damages which does not correspond to the then state of that structure. It was one quadrangle shaped fortress with four round towers at its angles. The fortress had a rather smallish bailey. After the fall of the Venetian Republic (1797.), the fortress was completely abandoned. Kotor (in present-day Montenegro) was the capital of the Venetian Albania. It held off several Turkish assaults (1492, 1539, 1569 and 1657). In accordance with the strategic importance of the town the map is focused on its fortification structures,  while the author gave no attention to the representation of civilian life of the town. In the port mighty ships are featured to suggest power and impregnability.