Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Panoramic view of the city of Hammelburg – Woodcut (1550)

Beskrivning

Der Statt Hammelburg in Francken Contrafactur. This woodcut presents a detailed panoramic view of the German city of Hammelburg in Franconia, nestled within a valley and surrounded by vine covered hills. The composition illustrates the medieval city walls, numerous church spires, and civic buildings, with a prominent gatehouse in the foreground connected by a bridge over a river. Extensive German text in Fraktur script is located below the image, providing a key to the principal landmarks and a historical description of the city. The work is a significant topographic plate from the Cosmographia, published in Basel by Heinrich Petri. This publication was the earliest German language description of the world and remained a fundamental geographical reference for decades.

Sebastian Münster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Christian Hebraist who served as a professor at the University of Basel. He is best known for his monumental work, the Cosmographia, which combined geographical maps with historical accounts and detailed city views based on reports from local correspondents. Münster was a central figure in the development of Renaissance cartography, moving away from purely theological maps toward more empirical and observational representations of the world. His work was highly influential due to its use of high quality woodcut illustrations and its broad accessibility in multiple languages, significantly shaping the European understanding of global and regional geography.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster.

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.