SIEGE OF JIHLAVA CZECH REPUBLIC 16506 MERIAN UNUSUAL ANTIQUE COPPER ENGRAVED MAP

Description: Striking and highly detailed interesting unusual 1650  Matthäus Merian's copper engraved map of the battle and siege of the fortified city of Iglau (present-day Jihlava, located in the Czech Republic, in the historical region of Moravia).
 
The Plan of Jihlava: At the center of the composition is the urban core, surrounded by imposing medieval walls and the star-shaped defensive bastions of the period, bordered by the bend of the Jihlava River. The Siege Lines and Positions: Around the walls are the trenches, cannon emplacements, and the geometric deployment of the imperial cavalry and infantry regiments engaged in the encirclement and bombardment of the Swedish fortifications.
 
During the final stages of the dramatic Thirty Years' War, the city was occupied by Swedish troops starting in 1645. This map celebrates the reconquest of the fortress by the imperial army led by Field General (Feldzeugmeister) Count Jan van Buchheim (referred to in the cartouche as Graf von Pucheim), which took place on December 7, 1647.
 
Title Cartouche: Visible at the top left, supported by a decorative baroque paper-style ribbon containing information about the siege and the commanders.
 
Legend (Erklärung): On the right is a large sheet-shaped box with a bulleted list (from A to N) written in German Gothic script, useful for identifying the bastions (Bollwerk), the city gates (Thor), and the specific military breaches created during the battle.
 
Source:  Merian, Matthäus. Theatrum Europaeum, Oder Ausführliche und Warhafftige Beschreibung aller und jeder denckwürdiger Geschichten, so sich hin und wieder in der Welt, fürnemblich aber in Europa, Teutschlanden, so wol im Religion- als Prophan-Wesen, vom Jahr Christi 1617 biß auff das Jahr (1718) . zugetragen haben. Beschrieben durch Johann Philipp Abelinus. Frankfurt am Main, Wolffgang Hoffmann, 1633-1738.

Date: 1650 ( undated )

Dimension: Plate size approx.: cm 38,3 x 32,8

Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains and wiremarks. Map uncolored. Wide margins. Small foxing and brownin. Moisture signs. Sheet folded. Conditions are as you can see in the images.

Mapmaker: Matthäus Merian (September 22, 1593 - June 19, 1650), sometimes referred to as 'the Elder' to distinguish from his son, was an important Swiss engraver and cartographer active in the early to mid 17th century. Merian was born in Basel and studied engraving in the centers of Zurich, Strasbourg, Nancy and Paris. In time Merian was drawn to the publishing mecca of Frankfurt, where he met Johann Theodor de Bry, son of the famed publisher Theodor de Bry (1528 - 1598) . Merian and De Bry produced a number of important joint works and, in 1617, Merian married De Bry's daughter Maria Magdalena. In 1623 De Bry died and Merian inherited the family firm. Merian continued to publish under the De Bry's name until 1626. Around this time, Merian became a citizen of Frankfurt as such could legally work as an independent publisher. The De Bry name is therefore dropped from all of Merian's subsequent work. Of this corpus, which is substantial, Merian is best known for his finely engraved and highly detailed town plans and city views. Merian is considered one of the grand masters of the city view and a pioneer of the axonometric projection. Merian died in 1650 following several years of illness. He was succeeded in the publishing business by his two sons, Matthäus (1621 - 1687) and Caspar (1627 - 1686), who published his great works, the Topographia and Theatrum Eruopeaum, under the designation Merian Erben (Merian Heirs). Merian daughter, Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, became an important naturalist and illustrator. Today the German Travel Magazine Merian is named after the famous engraver.