Bilder Sebastian Munster (1488–1552) – Map of West Friesland (Beschreibung des Occidentischen Frieslandes) – Woodcut (1544)

Beskrivning

This early woodcut map illustrates the historical region of West Friesland, located in the northern part of the modern-day Netherlands. The cartography provides a detailed view of the coastline, featuring prominent islands such as Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, and inland territories including Drente, Overijssel, and the city of Groningen. The landscape is dotted with small architectural icons representing towns and fortified settlements, alongside stylized forests and waterways. A large decorative initial letter begins the German descriptive text below the map, which provides historical and geographical context for the region.

Sebastian Munster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Christian Hebraist whose seminal work, Cosmographia, was the earliest German-language description of the world. First published in 1544, the Cosmographia became one of the most successful and popular books of the 16th century, undergoing numerous editions and translations. Munster’s maps are celebrated for their integration of geographical data with historical narrative and ethnographic detail, providing a snapshot of the known world during the Renaissance. His work was instrumental in reviving the study of geography in Europe and set a standard for the encyclopedic atlases that followed in the late 16th and 17th centuries.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Munster

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm

Medium: Woodcut

Date: 1544

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.