Antwerp – Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1634

ONE OF THE MOST DECORATIVE MAPS OF ANTWERP

“Marchionatus Sacri Romani Imperii.” Copper engraving made by Claes Jansz. Visscher in 1634, published by his son Nicolaes I (1618–1679) or grandson Nicolaes II Visscher (1649–1702). Original hand colouring with later additions. Size: 46 × 55.5 cm.

A finely executed and highly decorative map of Antwerp and its surrounding margraviate, produced at the height of Amsterdam’s cartographic output.

At the centre lies the city of Antwerp, shown in great detail within its walls and bastioned fortifications, strategically situated along the Scheldt. The river is prominently depicted and animated with numerous ships, underscoring Antwerp’s importance as an international trading centre. This is all the more significant in the context of the seventeenth century, when the closure of the Scheldt had diminished the city’s economic position, while its symbolic and historical stature remained undiminished.

Below the plan is an inset map of the course of the Scheldt, showing fortifications, dikes, and inundated land. Beneath this appears the city’s coat of arms, flanked by descriptive texts in Latin and Dutch, outlining the development of Antwerp from a fortified settlement along the river to a walled city, expanded in successive phases between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries under the authority of the dukes of Brabant and later the Spanish crown.

The map is framed by city views and depictions of important buildings. At the top is a panoramic view of Antwerp from the Scheldt, dominated by the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady. Along the borders appear the Town Hall, the stock exchange, the Jesuit church (St Charles Borromeo), city gates, and other notable structures. Through these elements, Antwerp is celebrated as a city of status, culture, and urban grandeur.

As is characteristic of the work of Claes Jansz. Visscher, this map is more than a purely topographical document. It is also a visual statement in which history, urban identity, and prestige converge. The use of the title “Marchionatus Sacri Romani Imperii” emphasizes the historical and juridical status of the territory within the Holy Roman Empire and contributes to the elevated presentation of Antwerp.

Price: Euro 1.750,-