|
||
|
|
|
|
This Braun & Hogenberg view depicts the Hanseatic city of Wismar on the Baltic Sea, presented in a cavalier perspective with vivid detail. The cityscape rises beyond the bay, showcasing its medieval architecture and strategic harbor. The harbor, described as one of the most convenient on the Baltic Sea, is filled with large ships, highlighting Wismar's maritime trade significance during its heyday.
The city's skyline is dominated by its impressive Gothic churches, including St. Nicholas (left), St. Mary (center), the Holy Spirit hospice church adjacent to it, and St. George's church. These structures, built in the characteristic Baltic brick Gothic style, reflect the wealth and influence of Wismar during the Hanseatic League's prominence. The city's Old Town layout, largely unchanged since the 14th century, is visible, revealing the structured and prosperous character of the settlement.
In the foreground, figures in elaborate burgher dress stroll along a pastoral scene, adding a human element and showcasing the local fashion of the time. This detail emphasizes Wismar's cultural and economic vitality during its peak.
Braun's commentary highlights Wismar's prosperity, noting its wealth, population, and the grandeur of its public and ecclesiastical buildings. The view captures the city as a thriving center of trade, culture, and power in the Hanseatic era.
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.
![Chart of the North and Baltic Seas [insets of St. Petersburg, Heligoland and Revel]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/72115.jpg)
![[ Ratzeburg ] Ratzenburgk](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/110175.jpg)
![Holsatiae Descriptio [with] Rugiae Usedomiae et Iulinae Wandalicarum insularum Vera descrtiptio 1584](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/83746.jpg)