Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Sección de Mapas y Planos, Serie de Perú y Chile – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)

1743–1773

Streets, city walls, and the Chilean landscape: two detailed city maps and a watercolor provide exciting insights into the development of Chile during the 18th century

  1. A compendium giving a glimpse into the development of Chile around the middle of the 18th century

  2. The three maps of the historic compendium encompass three areas between the years 1743–1773

  3. Two detailed urban plans with roads and city walls and a watercolor depicting the Chilean landscape

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile

Sección de Mapas y Planos, Serie de Perú y Chile Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile

The compendium known as Landscapes and Urbanization of Colonial Chile offers a glimpse into the exciting development of this land at the westernmost edge of the South American continent around the middle of the 18th century. Three maps present the diversity of the landscapes, cities, and architecture of Chile, which was undergoing several restructurings in the middle of the 18th century. A 1754 map presents the newly built inland city of Concepción de Chile after a devastating earthquake. Another shows a plan of the city Serena de Coquimbo in 1743 with its spectacular new fortifications. The third sheet of this historical compendium presents a marvelous view of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelite Order from San Rafael de Santiago de Chile amidst the gorgeous Chilean countryside from 1773. Thus, three of the most important events for the development of Spanish Chile are contained in historical documents!

Landscapes and Urbanization of Colonial Chile

The compendium known as Landscapes and Urbanization of Colonial Chile offers a glimpse into the exciting development of this land at the westernmost edge of the South American continent around the middle of the 18th century. Three maps present the diversity of the landscapes, cities, and architecture of Chile, which was undergoing several restructurings in the middle of the 18th century. A 1754 map presents the newly built inland city of Concepción de Chile after a devastating earthquake. Another shows a plan of the city Serena de Coquimbo in 1743 with its spectacular new fortifications. The third sheet of this historical compendium presents a marvelous view of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelite Order from San Rafael de Santiago de Chile amidst the gorgeous Chilean countryside from 1773. Thus, three of the most important events for the development of Spanish Chile are contained in historical documents!

An Undervalued Spanish Colony

Chile, this long drawn out, but very narrow Andean country on the west coast of South America, has an unbelievably long Pacific coastline. The land was discovered by Europeans at the end of the 15th century – the historical discovery of America by Columbus also brought about the exploration and urbanization of the entire continent. Due to its physical separation from the rest of South America, Chile was less valued than other Spanish regions of the New World. A settlement was first established in Chile in 1541. Since 1542, Chile was a part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and became its own Captaincy of Chile in 1778, an autonomous entity within the Spanish Empire.

Three Historically Valuable Views

The three maps of the historic compendium from the Archivo General de Indias, with the dimensions of 75 x 54 cm, 59 x 51 cm, and 40 x 23 cm, encompass three areas of development in Chile in the 18th century, between the years 1743–1773 to be more precise. One focuses on architecture, another naturally focuses on the urbanization of the countryside through new construction and expansion of settlements and cities. Thus two detailed plans of cities with a city map that visualizes the road system and city walls are to be found, in addition to a gorgeous watercolor page with a depiction of specific buildings amid the Chilean landscape.

A Cloister and Two New Cities

The last document is a view of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelite Order of San Rafael de Santiago de Chile from 1773. It is concerned with a view of a convent, which was consecrated in 1773, from the west, specifically from the tower of its founder, Don Luis Manuel de Zañartu. The watercolor shows the church and double cloister in the vast, flat plains of the Chilean landscape with hills and mountains in the background. Moreover, the compendium includes a map from 1752 with the plan for the new city of Concepción de Chile. Concepción is city founded in 1555 that was continuously destroyed by successive earthquakes over the years. The city was finally moved inland in 1754, in the Valle de Rosas. The third document is concerned with a plan of the city of Serena de Coquimbo from 1743. The city coat of arms and a large explanatory panel on the right margin adorn the map. Serena was founded in 1544, the city fortifications were newly invested in the 1730’s/ Today, the city is the most important center of tourism in the country.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Paisajes y Urbanismo del Chile Colonial
Landschaft und Urbanisierung der Kolonie Chile
Paisajes urbanos y arquitectura en el Chile Colonial
Size / Format
3 maps / 75.0 × 54.0 cm 59.0 × 41.0 cm 40.0 × 23.0 cm
Date
1743–1773
Language

Available facsimile editions:
Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Sección de Mapas y Planos, Serie de Perú y Chile – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)
Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Madrid, 2001
Limited Edition: 980 copies
Detail Picture

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile

Plan of the New Concepción de Chile

The city of Concepción de Chile was founded in 1550 and served as a base for the ongoing war against the Mapuche people that defined much of the history of Chile. Despite being besieged numerous times and even sacked once, the city suffered most from natural disasters, earthquakes, and tsunamis in particular. This map from 1752 shows a neat, quadratic city plan for a new building site on the banks of the Biobío River in the Valle de la Mocha, planned in the aftermath of the 1751 earthquake.

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Sección de Mapas y Planos, Serie de Perú y Chile – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)
Single Page

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile

Convent of the Discalced Carmelites of San Rafael of Santiago de Chile

Monastic orders were among the most important institutions of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas, serving both to Christianize and “civilize” the indigenous peoples. The Order of Discalced Carmelites, an offshoot of the mainstream Carmelites, have existed since 1580 and are focused on teaching prayer and giving spiritual direction. Their splendid cloister in the Chilean wilderness is artfully depicted here.

The cloister is situated in the mountains, which are visible in the background, but is still below the tree line. Dedicated on October 24th, 1777, the cloister was built in the Neoclassical-Colonial style and has a distinctly Roman look with courtyards, red tile roofs, rounded arches, pilasters, Corinthian columns, and a dome.

Landscapes and Urbanism of Colonial Chile – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Sección de Mapas y Planos, Serie de Perú y Chile – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Paisajes y Urbanismo del Chile Colonial

Publisher: Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Madrid, 2001
Limited Edition: 980 copies
Binding: 3 maps in a silk lined folder with a gold embossed leather spine
Commentary: 1 volume by Maria Antonia Colomar and Maria Belen Garcia Lopez
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding. The folder includes: Urban drawings of La Serena de Coquimbo (1743); Drawing of Concepcion de Chile (1752); Views of the Church and Convent of the Carme- litas de la Cañadillas de Santiago de Chile (1763)
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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