LOUNY

CAPTION: Launa, in German Laun, a town in Bohemia.

CARTOUCHE: Procured by Georg Hoefnagel, drawn by his son.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "*The Taborites also appreciated the beautiful situation of this town, and therefore took it for themselves. In his 24th book Johannes Dubravius writes something that is on the one hand amusing, but on the other hand sad, namely that the Taborites believe that when the Day of Judgement comes, terrors await the wicked and the godless, and delights the pious, among which they count themselves. But not even the pious will be redeemed unless they live in one of the following five towns, namely Plzen, Louny, Lany, Klatovy and Zatec*." This view from the southeast from a slightly elevated viewpoint shows the well-fortified north Bohemian town situated close to the River Ohre (F). Louny is dominated by three large buildings: the gatetower on the right; the church of St Nicholas (E) with its 14th-century bell tower and late Gothic nave that was rebuilt by Benedikt Ried from 1520 to 1538 after the town was destroyed by fire; and the town hall (C) between these two buildings. Located at a junction of trade routes, Louny was first recorded in the 11th century. It became a stronghold of the Taborites, a radical wing of the Hussites, who sought to build the Kingdom of God by armed force.

SLANY

CAPTION: Schlanium, in the vernacular Slany, a town in Bohemia.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "*Slany lies almost halfway between Louny and Prague and is a handsome and elegant town. Dubravius writes in his 2nd book that it got its name from sal, which means salt, in the following manner. ... When peace reigned throughout the empire, the hope of a stroke of good fortune and a tolerable mode of life was fulfilled by the discovery of several salt veins, which are common in Bohemia but are not found in other countries, so that a large number of people soon settled here to boil and process the salt, and the town of Slany was built in a very short time.*" The town is presented from the north from a slightly elevated position. It is dominated by the hill from which it takes its name, which can be seen on the left, and to the left of that church of the holy Trinity. The tower of the town hall stands out clearly in the middle. Slany Hill was settled in Neolithic times, and the salt springs that were discovered here in the 8th century led to the foundation of the town around 1300. In the following centuries it was granted many privileges and developed into an important commercial centre. (Taschen)

Braun G. & Hogenberg F. and the Civitates Orbis Terrarum.

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum, also known as the 'Braun & Hogenberg', is a six-volume town atlas and the most excellent book of town views and plans ever published: 363 engravings, sometimes beautifully coloured. It was one of the best-selling works in the last quarter of the 16th century. Georg Braun, a skilled writer, wrote the text accompanying the plans and views on the verso. Many plates were engraved after the original drawings of a professional artist, Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600). The first volume was published in Latin in 1572 and the sixth in 1617. Frans Hogenberg, a talented engraver, created the tables for volumes I through IV, and Simon van den Neuwel made those for volumes V and VI. Other contributors were cartographers Daniel Freese and Heinrich Rantzau, who provided valuable geographical information. Works by Jacob van Deventer, Sebastian Münster, and Johannes Stumpf were also used as references. Translations appeared in German and French, making the atlas accessible to a wider audience.

Since its original publication of volume 1 in 1572, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography. The first volume was followed by seven more editions in 1575, 1577, 1582, 1588, 1593, 1599, and 1612. Vol.2, initially released in 1575, saw subsequent editions in 1597 and 1612. The subsequent volumes, each a treasure trove of historical insights, graced the world in 1581, 1588, 1593, 1599, and 1606. The German translation of the first volume, a testament to its widespread appeal, debuted in 1574, followed by the French edition in 1575.

Several printers were involved: Theodor Graminaeus, Heinrich von Aich, Gottfried von Kempen, Johannis Sinniger, Bertram Buchholtz, and Peter von Brachel, all of whom worked in Cologne.

Georg Braun (1541-1622)

Georg Braun, the author of the text accompanying the plans and views in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was born in Cologne in 1541. After his studies in Cologne, he entered the Jesuit Order as a novice, indicating his commitment to learning and intellectual pursuits. In 1561, he obtained his bachelor's degree; in 1562, he received his Magister Artium, further demonstrating his academic achievements. Although he left the Jesuit Order, he continued his studies in theology, gaining a licentiate in theology. His theological background likely influenced the content and tone of the text in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, adding a unique perspective to the work.

Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590)

Frans Hogenberg was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. He was born in Mechelen as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg.

By the end of the 1560s, Frans Hogenberg was employed upon Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in 1570; he is named an engraver of numerous maps. In 1568, he was banned from Antwerp by the Duke of Alva and travelled to London, where he stayed a few years before emigrating to Cologne. He immediately embarked on his two most important works, the Civitates, published in 1572 and the Geschichtsblätter, which appeared in several series from 1569 until about 1587.

Thanks to large-scale projects like the Geschichtsblätter and the Civitates, Hogenberg's social circumstances improved with each passing year. He died as a wealthy man in Cologne in 1590.