Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – View of Islands and Sailing Ships – Woodcut (1550)

Beskrivning

"Von den Inseln" features a maritime woodcut depicting various islands with fortified towns and settlements amidst a sea populated by large sailing vessels. The image illustrates a section of the text discussing the nature and formation of islands such as Rhodes and Sicily. This work is a woodcut from a German edition of the Cosmographia, published by Heinrich Petri in Basel. As a pioneering encyclopedic work, the publication provided the sixteenth-century reader with a comprehensive overview of world geography, history, and natural phenomena.

Sebastian Münster was a German cartographer and cosmographer who became one of the most influential scholars of the Reformation era. He held a professorship at the University of Basel and was a master of several languages, including Hebrew and Latin. His magnum opus, the Cosmographia, was the result of decades of research and collaboration with scholars across Europe. Münster is recognized for his systematic approach to geography and his role in making complex historical and topographical information accessible to a broad public. His woodcut illustrations and maps remained the standard for geographical representation for over half a century.

Artist or Maker:
Sebastian Münster.

Dimensions:
Approximately 36 cm x 25 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.