Venice, settled in the 5th century in the lagoons of the Adriatic Sea, was always a maritime nation, but by the 12th century had become the prime trading centre between the eastern Mediterranean and Europe. The waters of medieval and Renaissance Venice thronged with watercraft - rotund merchant ships, sleek warships, humble fishing boats and sturdy lighters, pleasure craft and gondolas. But what were they like? What were their characteristic features? What is known of the construction techniques? The most important sources for this information are artistic representations. Excavations in the region have revealed only a few boats, but depictions of ships and boats in museums, churches, libraries and the public buildings of Venice are legion. The nautical archaeologist Lillian Ray Martin presents a brief history of Venetian art and then catalogues each known piece of Venetian art that depicts watercraft. Through this detailed analysis of the images the author reveals important facts about the construction, rigging, and use of these watercraft. The importance of Venice as a military power, as an entrepot between East and West and as a major player in international trade was dependant on her relationship with the sea. This work allows us to study some 150 illustrations from paintings, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, engravings and manuscripts which will open up the world of early Venetian shipping to archaeologists, modellers, enthusiasts and more general historians in both a systematic and eye-catching manner.
