Antique map - bird's-eye plan of Ostend by Braun and Hogenberg c. 1625
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "It was once an impoverished village in which no one lived except for a few fishermen. But after the beginning of the war in the Netherlands, the States-General decided to fortify it because of its advantageous position. [...] The siege began on 26 July 1601, and within a few days, the harbour was blocked, and under fire, so it could not be used. But they soon dug a new one, pierced through the dams and pools and forced the Spanish to retreat. [...] Whole books, to which the reader is referred, have been filled with accounts of the damage inflicted by one party on the other and of the dangerous storms and bloody skirmishes that occurred during the long siege."
This bird's-eye view looking out to sea in a northwesterly direction shows the city, secured by two or three fortification rings and moats, under siege by the Spanish Habsburg troops during the Dutch Revolt. Inside the inner ring with its eight bastions is the marketplace surrounded by blocks of houses, and the Sint-Pieterskerk, with the tower known as Peperbusse ("peppermill"). The tent of the Habsburg commander can be seen bottom left. The Dutch fleet in the upper part of the plate is bringing troops and provisions to the besieged fort. The Habsburg troops have already captured the projecting third defence wall in the southeast. Ostend's capitulation in 1604 ended the bloodiest siege of that period. (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.
Ostenda
Item Number: 13771 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Belgium
Antique map - bird's-eye plan of Ostend by Braun and Hogenberg.
Title: Ostenda.
Date of the first edition: 1617.
Date of this map: c. 1625.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 350 x 465mm (13.78 x 18.31 inches).
Verso: French text.
Condition: Excellent, nice old colour.
Condition Rating: A.
From: Théatre des Principales Villes de tout l'Univers Vol. VI. c. 1625. (Van der Krogt 4, 41:3.6)
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "It was once an impoverished village in which no one lived except for a few fishermen. But after the beginning of the war in the Netherlands, the States-General decided to fortify it because of its advantageous position. [...] The siege began on 26 July 1601, and within a few days, the harbour was blocked, and under fire, so it could not be used. But they soon dug a new one, pierced through the dams and pools and forced the Spanish to retreat. [...] Whole books, to which the reader is referred, have been filled with accounts of the damage inflicted by one party on the other and of the dangerous storms and bloody skirmishes that occurred during the long siege."
This bird's-eye view looking out to sea in a northwesterly direction shows the city, secured by two or three fortification rings and moats, under siege by the Spanish Habsburg troops during the Dutch Revolt. Inside the inner ring with its eight bastions is the marketplace surrounded by blocks of houses, and the Sint-Pieterskerk, with the tower known as Peperbusse ("peppermill"). The tent of the Habsburg commander can be seen bottom left. The Dutch fleet in the upper part of the plate is bringing troops and provisions to the besieged fort. The Habsburg troops have already captured the projecting third defence wall in the southeast. Ostend's capitulation in 1604 ended the bloodiest siege of that period. (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.