NOLLI MAP OF ROME

The Nolli map of Rome “The Great Plan of Rome” (1748) is composed of 12 engraved copper plates that combined conformed a unitary image. It represents a breaking point in the cartography representation. Nolli developed an intuitive and extraordinary representation technique based on solids versus voids: solids were rendered as dark gray while voids as white or light shades of gray, they represented the open and public spaces. This effective graphic method gives public and private spaces the same importance. For example, the void of the Piazza Navona, in opposite with the solid of the buildings that surrounds it, pop up as an easily identified element in the city.

Nolli’s plan is also important for being the first accurate map of Rome. Nolli does not use the perspective technique typical during the Renaissance. Although the perspective-elevated viewpoint used at that time in plan representation was successful in generating a sense of infinite space that followed the harmony laws of the universe, it distorted the real image of the city with the diminution of objects of the same size with the aim of creating depth. In contrast, Nolli’s method provided exact and accurate information that allowed comparing size, position and shape of the spaces due to avoiding the perspective distortion of the old method.

The map shows figures, buildings and public spaces each one rendered to be intuitively easy to understand. It lists ancient monuments as well as representative buildings. Ancient monuments are rendered indicating extant ruins and new monuments with their floor plan. Gardens are carefully rendered with the different plants, paving and materials. Nolli also developed a cartographic symbol system used to feature elements like cemeteries or river flows.

The result is a document with precise technical and accurate information that would change cartography representation.