Bilder Sebastian Munster (1488–1552) – Panoramic view of Mirandola – Woodcut (1550)

Beskrivning

Beschreibung der Herrlichen und weitberhumpte Statt Mirandula. This woodcut presents a detailed bird eye panoramic view of the fortified city of Mirandola in northern Italy. The composition illustrates the extensive star-shaped defensive walls, bastions, and moats surrounding the urban center, which features numerous towers, churches, and civic buildings. The surrounding landscape is depicted with smaller satellite fortifications such as Forto de Sancto Martin and Forto de Sancto Michele, along with stylized topographical features and directional labels including Occidens, Oriens, Meridies, and Septemtrio. The entire map is enclosed within an elaborate architectural border featuring grotesque masks, cornucopias, and allegorical figures. This work is a significant topographical 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 Munster 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 regional views based on reports from local correspondents. Munster 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 Munster.

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 44 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.