Utrecht – Heirs Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge, 1682

RICHLY DECORATED PLAN OF UTRECHT

“TRAIECTUM WTRECHT“, panoramic town view and plan of Utrecht, copper engraving made for the town book “Theatrum urbium Celebriorum totius Belgii sive Germaniae Inferioris” (Part II), published by Johannes Janssonius in Amsterdam in 1657. This example is the second state of the copperplate, published in 1682 by the heirs of Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge in Amsterdam. Coloured by a later hand. Size approx. 39.5 × 50.5 cm.

In this second state, the cartouche with the legend on the left was ornamented with the addition of a mythical female figure and an elegant countryside scene featuring a carriage, horsemen, and hunting dogs. It was signed in the plate by the engraver Johan van den Aveele (1655–1727). The map image was copied from a town plan published by Joan Blaeu in 1649, which in turn reflects the urban layout of 1618. The numbered legend with 26 entries (including several corrupted German toponyms) was derived from a different map by Matthäus Merian, published in Frankfurt.

This embellished map was included in the city atlas “Tooneel der Vermaardste Koopsteden en Handelplaatsen van de Gehele Wereld” (“Theatre of the most famous trading towns and commercial centers of the entire world).

Reference: Kaarten van Utrecht, Marijke Donkersloot-de Vrij (Hes Publishers), no. 16-2. 

Price: Euro 1.250,-