Civitates Orbis Terrarum - 1590

Georg Braun (1541–1622) enlisted the help of Frans Hogenberg (1535–90) for this ambitious project
The colored engravings are as artfully designed as they are accurate in their representation of each city
They not only depict buildings but are full of details concerning the citizens’ dress and everyday lives

Civitates Orbis Terrarum - 1590

Beschreibung und Contrafactur der Vornehmbster Stät der Welt - 1590 Facsimile Edition Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Description

Civitates Orbis Terrarum - 1590

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum is famous for the hundreds of gorgeous cityscapes from around the world contained in its six volumes, which are particularly precious because they shows the medieval cities of Europe before the destruction of the Thirty Years’ War. Cologne theologian, geographer, and printer Georg Braun and Flemish engraver Frans Hogenberg collaborated in creating the ambitious project, which has only gained popularity over the centuries. The masterfully designed and charming colored engravings not only depict buildings and their surrounding landscapes, but coats of arms, genre scenes from the everyday life of farmers and fishermen, local customs and costumes, boats, wagons, and more. Instructive and amusing texts written by Braun accompany the images and describe each town’s geographical location, historical development, and economic conditions. It was designed as a way of introducing the world to educated humanists. The volume printed in 1590 is presented here.

Codicology

Style: Other Styles / Unknown
Genre: Other Genres

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Detail Picture

Civitates Orbis Terrarum – 1590

Castel Sant'Angelo and Surroundings

Located on the north bank of the Tiber, just to the east of the Vatican in an area now referred to as Parco Adriano, the Castel Sant'Angelo was once the tallest building in Rome. Originally constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian between AD 134 and 139, the structure was converted into a papal fortress at the beginning of the 14th century and was later used as a prison and place of execution. It is flanked by two of Hadrian’s other building projects, the Hippodromus Haderiani and the Aelian Bridge, which connects the Castel Sant’Angelo to the center of Rome.

Beschreibung und Contrafactur der Vornehmbster Stät der Welt - 1590

Single Page

Civitates Orbis Terrarum – 1590

Jerusalem

Reminiscent of an image from Google Earth, the holy city of Jerusalem is depicted in great detail with a bright color palette not as it was in the 16th century but how it appeared during Christ’s lifetime when it was prosperous. The various locations of the Stations of the Cross and other stories of martyrdom are also depicted and the inscription at the top says that these places are reverently preserved by Christians and still venerated today.

This double-page engraving of the city was already a rarity at the end of the 16th century and the original plate has not survived to the present. It has been theorized that Braun and Hogenberg had the original in their possession because it was already used by them for the 1574 edition. Gerhard de Jode later republished the engraving in two sheets, which according to records existed as early as 1587.