Bidspirit auction | Linsum Austriae vulgo Lintz. Colónia,

Linsum Austriae vulgo Lintz. Colónia, c. 1596. - [LINZ]. Linsum Austriae vulgo Lintz. Georg BRAUN; Frans HOGENBERG (eds.), after a drawing by Lucas van VALCKENBORCH, communicated by Georg (Joris) HOEFNAGEL. [Cologne, Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg, c. 1596; drawing dated 1594]. Engraving; 425 × 535 mm (sheet). Panoramic view of Linz taken from the north bank of the Danube, with the city stretching along the river and rising against successive hills and mountain ranges in the background. One sees the walls, church towers, castle and bridge over the Danube, as well as suburbs with fields and vineyards; in the sky, banner title “Linsum Austriae vulgo Lintz”. At upper right, ornamental cartouche with alphabetical legend (A–S) identifying the main buildings and places. In the foreground, on rocky, wooded ground, two peasants in Alpine dress, one seated with his hoe, underline the picturesque and mountainous character of the landscape. The model for the view goes back to a landscape painting by Lucas van Valckenborch, a painter active in the service of Archduke Charles of Styria, whose composition was adapted for engraving by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594, later included in the great urban atlas Civitates orbis terrarum by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, published in six volumes between 1572 and 1617.