Franz HogenbergPisaro, Italy: A 16th Century Hand-Colored Map by Braun & Hogenberg, 1575

Description

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of View of Pezaro (Pisaro), Italy entitled "Pisaurum vulgo Pezaro" … more This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of View of Pezaro (Pisaro), Italy entitled "Pisaurum vulgo Pezaro" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, from their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Augsberg, Germany in 1575.
The map depicts a view of Pesaro, Italy from the west looking over the town to the Adriatic Sea. The River Foglia flows into the Adriatic in the foreground. The only identifiable building is the cathedral of San Domenico, which rises above the other roofs with its tall spire. Two women, dressed in styles of the 16th century are in conversation on a hill in the foreground on the left. Pesaro is in the province of Pesaro and Urbino and lies on the Adriatic and east of Florence. The city, which was founded by the Etruscans and named Pisaurum by the Romans, belonged from AD 754 onwards to the Papal States, and after 1285 was controlled by the princely families of Malatesta, Sforza and della Rovere. Today it is the capital of the province of Pesaro and Urbino and has a population of about 92,000. Pesaro's most famous resident, composer Gioacchino Rossini, was born here in 1792.

The following is an English translation of an excerpt from Braun's description of the city: "We believe that the astonishingly short life of the inhabitants of Pesaro comes not only from the insalubrious air, but also from the great quantity of delectable and delicious fruits which they consume to excess. For this causes the production in their bodies of evil humours, which then lead to incurably fatal diseases. The area around the city is most charming and well planted with vineyards, fig trees, olive trees and other fruit-bearing trees." 


References: Van der Krogt 4, 3369, state 1; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.252

This striking hand-colored city view is printed on laid, chain-linked paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 15.75" high by 20.75" wide. There is a central vertical fold, as issued, which is reinforced inferiorly. The title on the front is in Latin and there is French text on the verso. There is mild discoloration in the margins, a thin linear mark in the right margin and three small spots in the lower margin. The map is otherwise in very good to excellent condition. less