Rhotomagus, Galliae Lugdunensis ad Sequanam flu. Opp. Vulgo Rouen.

Title

Rhotomagus, Galliae Lugdunensis ad Sequanam flu. Opp. Vulgo Rouen.

Description

Bird’s-eye view of the city of Rouen on the Seine in France, featuring two coats of arms, a title and index cartouche identifying the city’s principal buildings, and two figures in the foreground. The verso bears a Latin description of the city, with plate number 7. After a design by Georg Hoefnagel.

ca. 1593

Artist

Braun/Hogenberg Franz/ Georg (1572-1618)

Frans Hogenberg (1535 – 1590) was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. Hogenberg was born in Mechelen as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg In 1568 he was banned from Antwerp by the Duke of Alva. He travelled to London, where he stayed a few years before emigrating to Cologne. He is known for portraits and topographical views as well as historical allegories. He also produced scenes of contemporary historical events. George Braun (1541-1622), a cleric of Cologne, was the principal editor of the "Civitates Orbis Terrarum". The first volume of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum was published in Cologne in 1572. The sixth and the final volume appeared in 1617. This great city atlas, edited by Georg Braun and largely engraved by Franz Hogenberg, eventually contained 546 prospects, bird-eye views and map views of cities from all over the world. Braun (1541-1622), a cleric of Cologne, was the principal editor of the work, and was greatly assisted in his project by the close, and continued interest of Abraham Ortelius, whose Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of 1570 was, as a systematic and comprehensive collection of maps of uniform style, the first true atlas.

Historical Description

Rouen is a historic city in northern France and the capital of Normandy. Rouen was an important Roman settlement and later became the capital of the Duchy of Normandy. During the Hundred Years’ War, the city was occupied by the English, and Joan of Arc was tried and executed there in 1431. Rouen later became an important center of trade and culture, famous today for its Gothic cathedral, medieval old town, and historic architecture.