La Cucagna Nuova [graphic] : trovata nella Porcolandria l'anno 1703 da Seigoffo.

[Italy], 1703.

1 item ; 41 x 51 cm

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Italy, -- publication place.

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From dealer's description: "66: Giuseppe Maria MITELLI: La Cucagna nuova, trovata nella Porcolandria l'anno 1703 da Seigoffo. (The new Cucagna, found in Porcolandria in 1703 by Seigoffo. — Cucagna in English is called Cockaigne, an imaginary place of extreme luxury and ease.) Etched. H335(400)xL435(525)mm. It is missing the lower left corner in the margin and has rare small needle holes, two of which reach the subject. Some tears, stains and folds in the margins and a consolidated tear in the lower margin slightly reaching the subject. Signed and dated "MI TE FE.1703" in the lefthand corner of the work. Printed on laid paper (PANZANO watermark and four empty circles). Since antiquity, men, especially those who worked hard to live and sometimes to survive, have always tried to escape the harsh reality of life (poverty, illness, wars, etc.). As a result, the imagination of poor men has created a legendary world, where things work in reverse: there is an abundance of everything that could satisfy material needs, food and clothing. It’s a magical environment, where “we always live and we never die,” and where the worries and pains of everyday life are unimaginable. Doctors are banned, sober and hard-working men are not welcome and, last but not least, war is declared to arms. From there comes the town of “Cuccagna,” described with a multitude of appetizing details by the storytellers who enchanted the crowds in the town squares of the past, from the Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century. From oral tradition, we moved to pleasant popular literature with titles such as "Historia Nuova della Città di Cuccagna" or "Histoire de Campriano Contadino" or the "Trionfo dei Poltroni". Between the 16th and 18th centuries, there was no shortage of prints on this theme, such as the one we present here, entitled "La cucagna nuova, trovata nella Porcolandria l'anno 1703 da Seigoffo" (La Cuccagna Nuova - New Cuccagna, found in Porcolandia in 1703 by Seigoffo), who describes a place with all the delights and invites anyone to go there because everything will come to him there with great ease. Not to mention also that he who lives there never dies!" Ordered from Galerie Martinez D., D9704, 2023 -12-22, Cat. 43, item #66

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