Tradition and Passion
We can sum up this sector with two words that complement one another
perfectly: tradition and passion.
In fact, we have always dealt in antique prints as they are particularly
enjoyable to work with. Uncles and
grandfathers were all passionate antique print collectors despite not having
any particular expertise. Francesco Pettinaroli, who runs the family shop
today, developed an almost compulsive passion and is specialised in three
specific sectors: cartography, Milanese landscapes and Mountains.
When you have a map in your hand that dates back to the 16th century,
you can’t help but stop to think about the care and precision with which
certain geographical surveys were carried out five centuries ago: the colours,
decorative cartouches and paper used all exude charm and suggestion.
In fact, this cultural phenomenon concerning antique cartography has
recently gained further acknowledgment and has seen great development; so much
so that today there are countless sector enthusiasts the world over.
The same can be said for landscapes of our city:
In this case, we are talking about a genuine field of study; from the
prints, it is possible to go back in time to explore urban development
throughout the centuries: buildings, conditions, images of everyday life and
customs that no longer exist today and that we had previously only read about
can, through the landscapes, be admired, better understood and forever
preserved in our memory.
Mountains have been a personal passion for Francesco since his childhood; his knowledge and love of climbing led him to begin researching prints, antique photographs and guides that cover the geography of the entire Alpine region.
With such passion, we can say that the excitement when discovering, locating and finally purchasing certain ‘pieces’ is often more satisfying for Francesco than the sale itself.