a mid-18th century perspective view of Milan Cathedral, instantly recognisable for its distinctive profile and sheer scale as the largest church in Italy (not counting the Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican state), its seemingly interminable construction taking from 1386 until it was officially declared complete in 1965, here dedicated to St Carlo Borromeo, the archbishop of Milan in the 16th century, nephew of Pope Pius IV, and a leading figure in the counter-reformation, whose relics are preserved here, though the cathedral is actually dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity,
original hand-coloured engraving. 295 x 420 mm. (11 5/8 x 16 1/2 in), titled in Latin, French, Italian and German, trimmed on or just within the platemark, and with the loss of publisher’s imprint at the bottom of the title field,