1580 Die Statt Paris
By: Sebastian Münster
Date: 1560 (circa) Basel
Dimensions: 9.75 x 12.5 inches (25 x 32 cm)
This splendid woodcut engraving of the city of Paris was published by Sebastian Münster in his Cosmographia, circa 1560. Initially published at least a decade earlier, it was the primary source for cartographic information regarding Paris for decades, and later served as a master plan for the Braun & Hogenberg map of the city.
Due to its ideal location on the Seine, Paris and its environs have been inhabited for many millennia. Archaeological findings include evidence of hunter-gatherer sites dating to the Mesolithic period, with more permanent settlement of areas of the city by around 4000 BCE. By the 3rd century BCE, a Celtic Gaul tribe known as the Parisii had made the city their capital and settled on the Île de la Cité, the large island in the middle of the Seine. Trade with other river settlements quickly established the city as an important mercantile centre due to the use of the Rhone-Seine rivers as a major trade route between Marseille and London.
Münster showcased the city’s fortifications, with its first Renaissance city wall extensions on the north side (north is left in the map) and the original inner medieval walls still intact. Further reinforcing the defense of the walls is the moat which encircles the entire city. In the centre of the map is Isle de la Cité, with the Cathedral of Notre Dame shown prominently at the upper end (index D: "Der Thümstifft").
At the lower end of the island is the Royal Palace (index B: "Des Königs Pallast"), at the location of today’s Palace of Justice. Other imposing landmarks include such well-known edifices as the Louvre Palace and Hôtel de Ville, powerful symbols of Paris’ dominance in religious, cultural and political domains. These prominent structures stand as powerful symbols of Paris's religious, cultural, and political significance. Other structures such as the Tuileries Palace, the Bastille, Les Hales marketplace and the Pont Notre Dame emphasize Paris as a thriving urban and economic center.
The Sorbonne, one of Europe’s leading intellectual institutions, and the majestic Sainte-Chapelle highlight the city’s rich educational and religious heritage. Two hand-colored coats of arms enhance the map's beauty, with the River Seine (Saquana) shown flowing through the heart of the city, dividing its historical districts.
Beyond the city walls are depicted estates with chateaux of varying sizes, some of which are encircled by defensive walls. Well established agricultural enterprises are evidenced by carefully divided plots of land, myriad windmills, and interconnecting streets and roads for transporting produce. Many churches and monasteries are shown in the environs, and in two places are gallows with corpses hanging as reminders to observe the law. The map documents Paris at a time when it was experiencing immense cultural growth under the reigns of Francis I and Henry II.
The extravagant decorative border of the map is thought to have been done by Hans Holbein the Younger. German text on the verso.
Condition: This map is in B condition with the top right corner torn away and a small stain in the central portion of the map. The print image appears light in the middle of the map.
Inventory #12857
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