Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Panoramic view of the city of Frankfurt am Main – Woodcut (1550)

Beskrivning

Franckfurt am Mayn die fürnemest und gemeinest Gewerbstatt Teutscher Nation. This woodcut presents a sweeping panoramic view of Frankfurt am Main, characterized as the most prominent and common commercial city of the German nation. The composition depicts the city situated along the Main River, illustrating its dense urban center, defensive walls, and the iconic bridge connecting to Sachsenhausen. In the sky above the city, a large, ornate double headed imperial eagle is flanked by decorative scrolls containing a detailed key to the city's landmarks and institutions. The work is a significant topographic plate from the Cosmographia, published in Basel by Heinrich Petri. This publication was the first German language description of the world and remained a foundational geographical reference for centuries.

Sebastian Münster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Hebrew scholar who served as a professor at the University of Basel. He is best known for his monumental work, the Cosmographia, which combined detailed maps with historical and ethnographic accounts of cities and regions. Münster was a central figure in Renaissance science, moving away from purely theological geography toward empirical and observational representations of the world. His work was highly influential due to its high quality woodcut illustrations and its broad accessibility, significantly shaping the European understanding of both global and local geography during the sixteenth century.

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.