In its golden age, the ‘Serenissima’ Republic of Venice had commercial interests spanning Europe and Asia. Thanks to its strategic location and far-reaching influence, the city-state reigned supreme as Queen of the Mediterranean, representing for the Western world’s a true gateway to the East.
Among Venice's thriving trades was the production of Venetian Turpentine – a resin treasured for its versatile beneficial properties and unmistakable fragrance.
From Globes to Popes: A History of Venetian Turpentine
Venetian turpentine was used for remarkably diverse purposes. It featured prominently in globe-making, notably in the 16th-century masterpieces created by Vincenzo Coronelli, a legacy continued today in Leonardo Frigo’s handcrafted globes. Furthermore, the resin was essential in medicines, antiseptics, and famously served as combustible material for the traditional white smoke that announces the election of a new pope.
The special feature of Venetian turpentine is that it is extracted from the larch tree (Larix decidua), which differs from other European conifers in that it completely sheds its needles during winter.
For centuries, specialised harvesters known as ‘drop hunters’ collected this precious resin by meticulously drilling into the base of the larch trunk, contributing to its popularity and fame across Europe.
Turpentine in Fine Arts and Craftmanship
While the medicinal properties of this resin were known to ancient Greeks –who utilised it to treat wounds and abscesses nearly two millennia ago – its artistic uses are equally longstanding and well-documented.
The resin found popularity as a lubricant for violins (click here to see Leonardo Frigo’s unique violins) and in the preparation of masks for theatrical performances.
However, Venetian turpentine’s most celebrated contribution to art was in varnishing: its unique brilliance and transparency made it indispensable in adding vibrancy and depth to antique varnishes.
Turpentine famously adorned the exquisite globes crafted by Vincenzo Coronelli in the 16th century, which became coveted items among European nobility, including France’s Sun King, Louis XIV.
Today, Leonardo Frigo revives the handcrafted magnificence and meticulous attention to detail that characterised Vincenzo Coronelli's timeless creations. Frigo’s globes are crafted employing the same techniques and materials used by Coronelli and described in his book Epitome Cosmografica – including the enduringly precious Venetian Turpentine.
