Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Map of Wittenberg and Portrait of Martin Luther – Woodcut (1544–1550)

Beskrivning

This woodcut presents a topographical view of the city of Wittenberg in Upper Saxony alongside a portrait of the reformer Martin Luther, as featured in the third book of a monumental universal chronicle. The upper illustration depicts the fortified city with its prominent castle church and urban skyline, labeled with the title Wittenburg. Below the city view, a smaller woodcut features a portrait of Martin Luther, identified in the marginalia as a doctor of the Holy Scriptures and the initiator of the Reformation. A significant block of German text in blackletter type provides a historical and religious account of the city, discussing its role as a residence for the Dukes of Saxony and the profound impact of Luther's theological teachings on the Christian world. This work served as a technical reference for readers to visualize the geographical and intellectual centers of the Protestant Reformation during the sixteenth century.

Sebastian Münster was a renowned German cartographer, cosmographer, and Christian Hebraist whose most significant achievement was the publication of the Cosmographia. This work was the earliest German-language description of the world and went through numerous editions and translations, becoming one of the most popular books of the sixteenth century. Münster's synthesis of geographical, historical, and ethnographic information helped establish the foundations of modern cartography and regional geography in Europe. His use of woodcut illustrations and maps provided a visual standard for the depiction of distant lands and cultures during the Age of Discovery. His scholarship at the University of Basel significantly influenced the dissemination of humanistic knowledge across the continent.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster .

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm .

Medium: Woodcut .

Date: 1544–1550

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.