MARIENBERG MISNIAE CIVITAS. [MARIENBERG,MEISSEN/SAXONIA]

An original antique copper-engraving after J. Hoefnagel from the 6th part of Latin ed. of Braun and Hogenberg's "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published 1617/18. With title at the top, ornamental title-cartouche with explanatory notes (A-E) and several figures in the foreground.
A birds-eye-view of Marienberg, a town in Germany in the southern part of Saxony. This view of Marienberg is from the sixth and last volume of 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', published in a much smaller edition than previous volumes, and it is therefore rarer than most of Braun & Hogenberg city views.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "All around the city are many rich mines, which is the reason why it was founded. Although some of these mines have gone into decline, and some are even completely abandoned, others are still in good condition and are being worked, and the Dukes of Saxony obtain great benefit and silver treasures from them, even if not as much as in former times, when Duke Albert descended into St George's pit in Schneeberg with his servants and used an enormous piece of pure silver as a table and dines from it."
This is a view of Marienberg from the south from a slightly elevated viewpoint. The city is located on the former trade route from Leipzig to Prague, and was founded by Duke Henry of Saxony after the discovery of silver and tin in 1521. The city is surrounded by fields and vegetable gardens and is laid out according to a strict rectangular grid; it has a city wall with four round towers that was built in 1541-1566.
On the right St Mary's church can be seen, to the left of which is the town hall. In the middle, in front of the pond, there is a slag-heap and the entrance to a mine as a symbol of the mining industry (C). The hunter in the foreground is an indication of the abundance of game in the local forests. The figure with the book or sketch book may be the artist, Jakob Hoefnagel, himself.

The "Civitates" was compiled and written by George Braun, Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun gathered together vast amounts of information and draft plans to produce over 500 city views/maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617. Most of these engravings were made by Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg, many after drawings by Joris Hoefnagel.
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Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 2624; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.460.