|
||
|
|
|
|
These two engraved views, taken from Civitates Orbis Terrarum by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, depict the towns of Saarburg and Pfalzel, both located in present-day Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
The illustrations combine topographical precision with artistic embellishment, showcasing not only the architectural and geographical features of these towns but also their historical significance within the Electorate of Trier. Saarburg, situated along the Saar River, is depicted as a fortified settlement dominated by a hilltop castle, while Pfalzel, near Trier, is presented with its medieval ramparts and ecclesiastical institutions.
The upper half of the engraving presents Saarburg, a strategically positioned town in the archbishopric of Trier, viewed from the perspective of Beurig on the right bank of the Saar. The prominent Saarburg Castle, perched atop a hill to the right, served as the later residence of the archbishops of Trier. While the castle itself dates back to the 10th century, the settlement below was granted municipal status in 1291. At the town’s center, the parish church of St. Lawrence stands near Saarburg’s striking waterfall, where the Leuk Stream cascades over a 20-meter-high rock face—a key geographical and aesthetic feature of the town.
On the far left, the Kautenturm, a tower marking the edge of the Old Town, can be seen. In the foreground, the Saar River flows across the composition, with a stone bridge, known as the Kunz Bridge, spanning its waters. This bridge was fortified with towers at both ends, where watchmen kept a close eye on movements across the river. In the 16th century, the town consisted of approximately 100 homes of common citizens, excluding the residences of nobility and clergy.
The lower portion of the engraving offers a bird’s-eye view of Pfalzel, a small town situated downstream from Trier on the left bank of the Moselle River. At its center, the Electoral Palace of the Trier Bishops dominates the skyline, constructed within the western section of the ruins of the Palatiolum, a 4th-century Roman complex. This imperial palace was long believed to have connections to Julius Caesar.
The origins of Pfalzel are traditionally linked to King Dagobert I of the Franks in the early medieval period. In the 7th century (AD 642), the town was part of Trier’s suburbs, and it became home to a nunnery for noblewomen, founded by Adela of Pfalzel. The nunnery was dedicated to St. Mary and played a significant role in the region’s ecclesiastical history.
Pfalzel’s fortifications remain a key feature, with large sections of the original ramparts still visible today. The Moselle Bastion, one of six prominent bastions, is the best-preserved example of these defensive structures.
Civitates Orbis Terrarum: The Greatest City Book
Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg began the process of creating a comprehensive atlas of the cities of the world in 1572. Their book, Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was originally intended as a companion to Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first true atlas.
The great atlas was edited by Georg Braun, with Franz Hogenberg engraving many of the views. When the project was finished, the series would contain over 546 views (sometimes with multiple views on a single plate).
Civitates Orbis Terrarum includes the work of over 100 artists and topographers, perhaps most notable among them was the superlative talent of Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600). He provided original drawings of Spanish and Italian towns, as well as reworking and improving the town drawings of other artists. After Joris's death, his son Jakob continued the project.
The Civitates provides an incredibly comprehensive view of urban life in the late 16th century. Many of the views in these volumes are the earliest of their respective towns -- either absolutely, or they are predated only by impossible rarities, as in the case of London. Cities portrayed range from the great capitals of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas to small Swiss hamlets and other tiny villages. As such, this singular and indispensable source for understanding the early modern world.
The work was published in six volumes, each of which contained approximately sixty plates. The subject matter of each plate varied widely, it could provide a single view of a city, two views of the same city, or views of up to nine different cities. The range of designs is extensive, and it is interesting to compare the variety between views of the same city by two different authors.
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 ever 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 one member of a prominent artistic family in the Netherlands.
During the 1550s, Frans worked in Antwerp with the famous mapmaker Abraham Ortelius. There, he engraved the maps for Ortelius’ groundbreaking first atlas, published in Antwerp in 1570, along with Johannes van Deotecum and Ambrosius and Ferdinand Arsenius. It is suspected he engraved the title page as well. Later, Ortelius supported Hogenberg with information for a different project, the Civitates orbis terrarium (edited by Georg Braun, engraved by Hogenberg, published in six volumes, Cologne, 1572-1617). Hogenberg engraved the majority of the work’s 546 prospects and views.
It is possible that Frans spent some time in England while fleeing from religious persecution, but he was living and working in Cologne by 1580. That is the city where he died around 1590. In addition to his maps, he is known for his historical allegories and portraits. His brother, Remigius, also went on to some fame as an engraver, and he died around the same time as his brother.
![Heidelberga [and] Spira [and] Wormatia](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/98992.jpg)
![[ Cologne / Koln ] Colonia Agrippina](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/98284.jpg)
![(Mainz, Würzburg and Sion) Moguntia, Germaniae Metropolis, ad Rheni ripas Urbs Celeberrima, mercatorum frequentia . . . [and] Herbipolis Comuiter Wirtzburg Orientalis Franciae Metropolis [and] Sedunum, primaria & Metropolitica Valesiae urbs . . .](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/98996.jpg)
