View of Krakow from the south
Egidio van der Rye (1573-1617)
Drawn from nature, from Krakus’ mound. This view appeared in the sixth volume of the work by Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg Civitates Orbis Terrarum (Cities of the world), entitled Theatri praecipuarum totius mundi urbium liber sextus, published in Köln in 1617. The publication contains drawings of the biggest European cities. Krakow was presented in two pictures – from the south and from the north-west. Such depictions of the panoramas of Krakow were often repeated and imitated by numerous artists. The aim of the publication was to present the cities in such a way as to show not only their general location, but also details of the buildings and the arrangement of streets. The authors wanted to achieve an impression that the city was in front of the viewer.
Before 1600
Copperplate and etching, colour wash on paper
State Archive in Krakow, ref. no Zb. kart. V-10