Bidspirit auction | Ratisbona. Colónia, c. 1596.

Ratisbona. Colónia, c. 1596. - [REGENSBURG]. Ratisbona. Effigiavit Jacobus HOEFNAGEL, Geor. fil., in Comitijs Ratisbonensibus anno 1594 ; Georg BRAUN; Frans HOGENBERG (eds.). [Cologne, Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg, c. 1596]. Engraving; 425 × 535 mm (sheet). Broad panoramic view of Regensburg ( Ratisbona ), taken from the south, with the Free Imperial City spread along the Danube, showing the medieval stone bridge, church towers, walls and agricultural suburbs around; at centre stands the Gothic cathedral. In the foreground, cultivated fields with rustic figures, soldiers and pack animals. At top, large baroque cartouche with double-headed eagle and dedication to Emperor Rudolf II; at the extremities, coats of arms and decorative elements. At lower right, cartouche with alphabetical legend identifying the main buildings, and another with mention of the dates “1515 / 1575”. The signature “ Effigiavit Jacobus Houfnaglius Geor. fil. in Comitijs Ratisbonensibus Anno 1594 ” indicates that the drawing was made by Jacob Hoefnagel during the Imperial Diet held in Regensburg that year, later included in volume V of the Civitates orbis terrarum . On verso, Latin text under the heading RATISPONA. , describing the city’s history, its political importance as frequent seat of the Diets of the Holy Roman Empire and its principal institutions and buildings.