1701 Italian Naval Engravings Presa della Galea di Simain Rais Corsaro Rare Early 18th Century

These exceptional engravings, dated 1701, depict dramatic Mediterranean naval encounters between Italian seafarers and the feared Barbary corsairs whose presence shaped centuries of maritime history. Each print carries the Italian inscription Presa della galea di Simain Rais Corsaro, translating to Capture of the galley of Simain, a corsair captain. The scenes document the intense naval conflicts that defined trade, power, and survival across the Mediterranean world during the early modern period.

From the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries, Barbary corsairs operated from North African ports such as Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, commanding swift galleys that challenged European fleets and coastal defenses. Their captains, known as raïs, became infamous figures whose victories and defeats were widely recorded. Naval engagements like those shown here were considered moments of great significance and were frequently celebrated through printed engravings commissioned by Italian states to commemorate maritime strength and victory.

These prints are believed to originate from an Italian series of naval battle engravings published in 1701, created to document notable engagements and glorify the power of Mediterranean fleets. The fine linework captures oared galleys and sailing warships locked in combat, clouds of cannon smoke, and the drama of boarding and capture. The level of detail reflects both the artistic sophistication of the period and the importance of naval warfare to European identity and commerce.

Highly collectible and rich in historical significance, these early eighteenth century engravings are ideal for collectors of maritime history, early printed works, and Baroque era naval imagery. Displayed individually or as a pair, they bring a powerful sense of movement, history, and storytelling into any collected interior.

17”x14” some foxing but in overall great condition