Very rare suite of views of Wroclaw (Breslau)
Marketplace of Wroclaw (Breslau), by Martin Engelbrecht. c. 1750
Martin Engelbrecht (1684–1756) was a notable German engraver and publisher based in Augsburg, a major centre for the graphic arts in early 18th-century Europe. Born into a family of artists, Engelbrecht built a successful career in engraving and print publishing alongside his brother Christian Engelbrecht.
Among his diverse artistic and commercial ventures, Martin Engelbrecht is primarily remembered for his pioneering work in producing optical views (vues d'optique), a popular form of print entertainment in the 18th century. These hand-colored engravings were designed to be viewed through special optical devices, such as peep-boxes, which enhanced their sense of depth and perspective. Engelbrecht’s optical views typically depicted grand architectural scenes, cityscapes, palace interiors, and imaginary perspectives of famous sites, catering to the period’s fascination with illusion, travel, and spectacle.
His optical views stood out for their intricate detail, vivid colouring, and clever use of exaggerated perspective lines to heighten the illusion of three-dimensional space when seen through viewing devices. These prints were widely distributed not only within the German-speaking world but across Europe, contributing to the broader craze for optical entertainments during the Rococo period.
In addition to these, Engelbrecht is credited with developing perspective theatre scenes — layered paper dioramas that created a similar sense of spatial depth and theatrical staging. Both the perspective theatres and optical views reflect Engelbrecht’s inventive approach to merging art, entertainment, and commerce.
Engelbrecht’s optical views were not merely decorative; they also served as visual records of contemporary architecture and urban spaces, as well as imaginative interpretations of biblical, mythological, and allegorical subjects. Today, these works are valued by historians and collectors alike for their artistic merit and for what they reveal about 18th-century visual culture and popular amusements.
Martin Engelbrecht remained active in Augsburg until he died in 1756, leaving a lasting impact on the history of European printmaking and optical media.
Prospectus prima partis Fori Vratislaviensis vel sic dicti Circuli à foro frumentario versus Pontem Fabrorum videndus.. - Prospect des Ersten Theils vom Breslauischen Marckt oder sogenänten Ringes vom Kornmarckte gegen der Schmide Brucken anzusehen.
Item Number: 31918 new Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Eastern Europe
A suite of four optical views of the marketplace of Wroclaw (Breslau), by Martin Engelbrecht.
Titles: 1. Prospectus prima partis Fori Vratislaviensis vel sic dicti Circuli à foro frumentario versus Pontem Fabrorum videndus.. - Prospect des Ersten Theils vom Breslauischen Marckt oder sogenänten Ringes vom Kornmarckte gegen der Schmide Brucken anzusehen.
2. Prospectus alterius partis fori Vratislaviensis et sic dicti Circuli, à foro foenario verus fornicem Olaviensem contemplandus. - Prospect des andern Theils vom Breslauischen Marckte oder so genänten Ringes vom Neu-Marckt gegen dem Slavischen Schwibogen anzusehen.
3. Prospectus tertia pars Circuli et Fori Vratislaviensis versus domum Staticum s:plateam Viadrinam spectanda. - Prospect des dritten Theils des Ringes in Breßlau gegen der Waag und Oder Gaßen anzusehen.
4. Prospectus quartae partis Circuli et Fori Vratislaviensis per forum cupedinarium versus plateam Albrechtianam spectandi. - Prospect des vierten Theils vom Markt oder Ringe zu Breslau den Naschmarkt hinauf gegen der Albrechts Gassen zusehen.
Cum Grat; et Priv: Sac. Caes: Maj. - Mart. Engelbrecht, et Neg: Acad: excud. A.V.
Date of the first edition: c. 1750.
Date of this map: c. 1750.
Rare first edition.
Copper engravings, printed on paper.
Image size each: 200 x 310mm (7¾ x 12¼ inches).
Sheet size each: 240 x 395mm (9½ x 15½ inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Original coloured, excellent.
Condition Rating: A+.
Separate publication.
Martin Engelbrecht (1684–1756) was a notable German engraver and publisher based in Augsburg, a major centre for the graphic arts in early 18th-century Europe. Born into a family of artists, Engelbrecht built a successful career in engraving and print publishing alongside his brother Christian Engelbrecht.
Among his diverse artistic and commercial ventures, Martin Engelbrecht is primarily remembered for his pioneering work in producing optical views (vues d'optique), a popular form of print entertainment in the 18th century. These hand-colored engravings were designed to be viewed through special optical devices, such as peep-boxes, which enhanced their sense of depth and perspective. Engelbrecht’s optical views typically depicted grand architectural scenes, cityscapes, palace interiors, and imaginary perspectives of famous sites, catering to the period’s fascination with illusion, travel, and spectacle.
His optical views stood out for their intricate detail, vivid colouring, and clever use of exaggerated perspective lines to heighten the illusion of three-dimensional space when seen through viewing devices. These prints were widely distributed not only within the German-speaking world but across Europe, contributing to the broader craze for optical entertainments during the Rococo period.
In addition to these, Engelbrecht is credited with developing perspective theatre scenes — layered paper dioramas that created a similar sense of spatial depth and theatrical staging. Both the perspective theatres and optical views reflect Engelbrecht’s inventive approach to merging art, entertainment, and commerce.
Engelbrecht’s optical views were not merely decorative; they also served as visual records of contemporary architecture and urban spaces, as well as imaginative interpretations of biblical, mythological, and allegorical subjects. Today, these works are valued by historians and collectors alike for their artistic merit and for what they reveal about 18th-century visual culture and popular amusements.
Martin Engelbrecht remained active in Augsburg until he died in 1756, leaving a lasting impact on the history of European printmaking and optical media.
Related items
Ichnographica Urbis Wratislaviensis Delineatio ... c. 1757
Breslau, by Homann Heirs.
[Item number: 21289]
Wratislavia. c. 1593
Wroclaw (Breslau), by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg.
[Item number: 24572]
Ducatus Breslanus sive Wratislaviensis. 1641
Wroclaw (Breslau), by Henricus Hondius.
[Item number: 26280]
Wratislavia. 1590
Wroclaw (Breslau), by Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg.
[Item number: 26777]
Breslau. 1686
Wroclaw (Breslau) by Christoph Riegel.
[Item number: 31701]