Bilder Sebastian Munster (1488–1552) – City of Stettin – Woodcut (1550)

Beskrivning

This print presents a detailed topographical woodcut view of the city of Stettin in Pomerania, depicted from across the Oder River. The cityscape highlights prominent Gothic structures, including the church of Saint James and the church of Saint Nicholas, alongside the ducal castle, defensive walls, and various civic buildings. Large sailing vessels are shown navigating the river in the foreground, emphasizing the city's importance as a maritime trading port. A large, ornate coat of arms featuring a griffin is positioned in the upper center, framed by a decorative laurel wreath and flowing banners. The work was published as part of the Cosmographia, the earliest German-language description of the world, which served as a critical resource for sixteenth-century scholars to understand the urban development and geography of Northern Europe during the Reformation era.

Sebastian Munster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Christian Hebraist who became one of the most significant geographic scholars of the sixteenth century. A former Franciscan monk who later converted to Protestantism, he served as a professor at the University of Basel, where he compiled vast amounts of geographical and historical data. His masterpiece, the Cosmographia, went through numerous editions and was translated into several languages, fundamentally shaping the European worldview for decades. Munster is recognized for his systematic approach to cartography and his role in popularizing the study of geography through highly detailed woodcut illustrations and maps.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Munster.

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 43 cm.

Medium: Woodcut .

Date: 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.