Braun & Hogenberg's View of Cologne: A Rare 16th-Century Perspective
This richly hand-colored example of Braun & Hogenberg's iconic view of Cologne (Civitas Coloniensis), from their seminal Civitates Orbis Terrarum (1572–1617), presents a detailed and historically significant depiction of the city during the Renaissance. Rendered in a meticulous bird's-eye perspective, the map captures Cologne's prominent role as a religious, economic, and cultural hub on the Rhine, illustrating its semicircular plan, bustling markets, and notable architectural landmarks.
The map's upper cartouche recounts the origins of the fortress of Deutz (Divitense Munimentum), built by Emperor Constantine the Great in the early 4th century to protect Roman garrisons against invasions from Gaul. By the medieval period, Deutz gained prominence as the site of a Benedictine abbey, renowned for its scholarly contributions under St. Rupert in 1124. These details emphasize the enduring strategic and religious significance of Cologne's eastern bank.
The lower left cartouche chronicles Cologne's Roman heritage, particularly its monumental stone bridge, constructed in 310 AD by Constantine as a symbol of imperial authority. Later dismantled in 962 AD to thwart incursions by the Franks, the bridge underscores Cologne’s role as a fortified boundary of the Holy Roman Empire. The accompanying heraldic description highlights the city's adoption of three golden crowns in its insignia following the arrival of the relics of the Magi in 1162—a testament to Cologne's importance as a pilgrimage site.
The right cartouche elaborates on Cologne's stature as a thriving metropolis, the "head and metropolis of Lower Germany," renowned for its numerous churches, vibrant university (founded in 1388), and central position within the Hanseatic League. Braun’s commentary further praises Cologne's Gothic cathedral, described as a soaring architectural marvel dedicated to St. Peter, alongside the elaborately adorned town hall with its iconic tower. The lively markets and dense clusters of ships in the Rhine attest to the city's robust trade networks, connecting it to England, Burgundy, and beyond.
This map vividly illustrates Cologne’s unique blend of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance influences. The cathedral, with its then-unfinished Gothic spires, dominates the view, while the Romanesque basilica of the Holy Apostles and the bustling Alter Markt and Heumarkt underscore the city’s multifaceted identity. Created expressly for Braun & Hogenberg's atlas, the view offers an invaluable snapshot of Cologne as it stood in the late 16th century, with an estimated population of 40,000 inhabitants.
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.