1574 Ancona.
By: Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg
Date: 1574 (Published) Cologne
Dimensions: 13 x 18.75 inches (33 x 47.6 cm)
This map presents one of the earliest obtainable bird’s eye views of the ancient Italian port city of Ancano, perched on the ‘elbow’ of Italy on the Adriatic coast, famous for having one of the finest natural harbors in southern Europe. This view conveys an impressive picture of the city's distinctively regular, nearly symmetrical layout and of the city’s marvelous fortifications including walls and moats as well as natural geographic formations which also serve to fortify the city. While traces of Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures have been discovered, documenting the great antiquity of the site, it is first noted in history as having been founded in the 4th c BC by Greek colonists from Syracuse, who named the city.
Translation of cartouche text: “Ancona, famous city in Picenum on the Adriatic, is embellished by a most excellent harbour: there is namely none more commodious or spacious in all Italy. It takes its name from its location, which resembles the crook of an elbow. It is famed for its trade and has an abundance of grain and wine and all other necessities of life: it is redolent everywhere of great age.”
Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. Braun was the chief editor of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, the greatest book of town views of that time to be published. His job entailed hiring artists, acquiring source material for the maps and views, and writing the text. In this role, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius. Braun lived into his 80s, and he was the only member of the original team to witness the publication of the sixth volume in 1617.
Frans Hogenberg (ca. 1540-ca. 1590) was a Flemish and German engraver and mapmaker who also painted. He was born in Mechelen, south of Antwerp, the son of wood engraver and etcher Nicolas Hogenberg. Together with his father, brother (Remigius), uncle, and cousins, Frans was a member of a prominent artistic family in the Netherlands. During the 1550s, he worked in Antwerp with the famous mapmaker Abraham Ortelius. There he engraved the maps for Ortelius’ groundbreaking first atlas, published in Antwerp in 1570. Later, Ortelius supported Hogenberg with information for the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Hogenberg engraved the majority of the work’s 546 prospects and views.
Condition: This fine hand colored map is in A condition with even toning.
Inventory #11143
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