Vue de Tusa

A charming aquatint print depicting a atmospheric nocturnal and moonlit view of the harbor and marina of Tusa (Messina), taken from the famous and elegant Voyage Pittoresque en Sicile, published in Paris between 1822 and 1826 by publisher Jean-Frédéric d’Ostervald, printed by Jules Didot Aîné, and dedicated to H.R.H. the Duchess of Berry.

The historical and descriptive texts of the work were written by the scholar and antiquarian Achille-Étienne Gigault de La Salle (1772–1855). The print is accompanied by the original two-page descriptive text in French.

Historical Context and Content of the Text The view does not depict the inland hilltop village of Tusa, but rather its marina with the small fort and the typical structures used as a commercial port — the historical “Caricatora” — where warehouses, the custom house (douane), and the trade of oil, silk, flax, and manna were concentrated.

The French text written by Gigault de La Salle highlights:

• Geographical and Feudal Context: The location in the Val di Demone and the diocese of Cefalù, tracing ownership changes from the Ventimiglia family to the La Torre family (mid-17th century) up to the Branciforte family (from 1744).

• Ancient Halaesa (Halaesa Archonidea): An in-depth discussion of the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Alæsa near the port. It cites the fundamental archaeological contribution of the Sicilian antiquarian Ignazio Paternò Castello, Prince of Biscari and Torremusa, who in his 1753 volume identified the ruins as ancient Alæsa, the first Sicilian city to voluntarily submit to Rome, rich in temples (dedicated to Apollo, Bacchus, and Jupiter), coins, and sculptures.

Collector’s Notes The aquatints of the Voyage Pittoresque en Sicile by Gigault de La Salle and d’Ostervald are distinguished by their extraordinary atmospheric rendering and fine chiaroscuro, characteristics that reach their peak of expression in the nocturnal and moonlit views along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily. A graphic work of great charm and romantic elegance, highly sought after for its historical and iconographic value.