First State of Visscher's Map of the Rhine Valley
Nice example of Nicholaes Visscher's decorative map of the German Rhine River Valley, engraved in his usual highly-decorative "carte a figures" style with an intricate and interesting border.
The map follows the course of the Rhine River, starting in Baden, in northern Switzerland. From there, the map flows northwards, separating Alsace from the rest of Germany. Strasbourg is located on this portion of the river. From there, the river tilts eastwards before taking a hard westwards turn where it meets the Main, just outside Frankfurt. The river runs off the map just south of Koblenz.
Around the sides of the map are included views of a number of the larger cities in the region, including Heidelberg, Mentz (Mainz), Frankfurt, Worms and Spier. Smaller views show important monasteries and cloisters, as well as a truly massive cask of wine or beer. Three coats of arms appear, as well as the indigenous dress of four different levels of society.
The map was first published in 1621, with subsequent states published in 1630, 1633, 1650 and 1652.
Appearance of the Map in Dutch Art
Schilder (MCN VI, page 240) notes that this map appears in a painting by Caspar Netscher (very much like Vermeer included Dutch maps on the walls in his scenes):
Visscher's map of the Palatinate appears in the c. 1670 painting, A Lady Teaching a Child, and a Child Playing with a Dog (Map 49, ill. 8), by Caspar Netscher (1635/36-84). Netscher may have chosen Visscher's map because he himself came from that part of Germany.