ROME AND THE THEATRE OF VERONA

Key Properties

Edition: Cosmographia, 1598

Language: German

Collation & Technical Description

Two woodcut leaves, approx. 16½ × 13½ in. each. A numbered bird's-eye view of Rome with a key, and a reconstructed view of the Roman theatre of Verona.

Condition

Both leaves appear reasonably good, with generous margins, age toning and a few minor handling marks. No evident major damage is visible.

References & Bibliography

Two leaves from S. Münster, Cosmographia, Basel, 1598.

Woodcut; cf. the standard Münster literature.

Description

This lot consists of two separate text leaves from Münster's Cosmographia. One shows a bird's-eye view of Rome with numbered locations and a key. The other shows a reconstructed view of the Roman theatre of Verona.

The Rome view is the easier of the two to place, given the broad appeal of the city. The Verona leaf is more idiosyncratic in content and decoratively attractive through its architectural composition and large title banner.

The leaves were not originally a pair, but together they form a coherent Italian ensemble.

Notable features: Two authentic sixteenth-century woodcut leaves; Rome has broad decorative appeal; Verona is a distinctive architectural-historical subject.

Historical Significance

City and antiquity views from Münster's Cosmographia, illustrating the Renaissance interest in classical topography.

Provenance

Not established.