43 Georg Braun / Frans Hogenberg - Map of Philippeville, Chimay, Walcourt and Marienbourg - Belgium - Civitates Orbis Terrarum

Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. Braun was the chief editor of the Civitates orbis terrarum, the greatest book of town views ever published. His job entailed hiring artists, acquiring source material for the maps and views, and writing the text. In this role, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius. Braun lived into his 80s, and he was the only member of the original team to witness the publication of the sixth volume in 1617.

Frans Hogenberg (circa 1540–circa 1590) was a Flemish and German engraver, mapmaker, and painter born in Mechelen, the son of wood engraver Nicolas Hogenberg. He worked in Antwerp during the 1550s with the famous mapmaker Abraham Ortelius, engraving maps for Ortelius’ first atlas published in 1570. Hogenberg is best known for engraving the majority of the 546 prospects and views for Civitates Orbis Terrarum, published from 1572 to 1617. He lived and worked in Cologne by 1580, where he died around 1590, and was also recognized for his historical allegories and portraits.

Dimensions: 

59 cm x 50 cm  

Artist or Maker: 

Georg Braun / Frans Hogenberg

Medium: 

Hand-coloured engraving

Date: 

1599