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

Beskrivning

Heidelberg sampt dem Fürstlichen Schloß, Brucken, Vorstetten, namhafftigen Gebäwen, und aller Gelegenheit. This woodcut presents a detailed panoramic view of the German city of Heidelberg, situated along the Neckar River. The composition illustrates the late medieval urban landscape, including the city walls, the bridge, and the prominent church of Saint Peter. The massive Heidelberg Castle is depicted perched on the hillside above the town. In the upper left corner, the coat of arms of the Electorate of the Palatinate is displayed, while cardinal directions such as Meridies and Occidens are noted. The work is an important geographic plate from the Cosmographia, published in Basel by Heinrich Petri, which served as the most influential German description of the world during the mid sixteenth century.

Sebastian Münster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and scholar who held a professorship at the University of Basel. He is best known for the Cosmographia, a monumental encyclopedia that combined geographical maps with historical, ethnographic, and topographic data. Münster was a key figure in the transition from medieval to modern cartography, emphasizing empirical observation and gathering firsthand reports from a network of correspondents across Europe. His work was published in numerous editions and languages, making it a foundational text for the study of global geography and Renaissance cityscapes.

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.