Frankfurt

Article description

Hand-Colored Original Copperplate Engraving by Johann Baptist Homann, depicting Frankfurt. Published Nürnberg, 1720. Sheet: 497 by 584mm (19 by 23 inches).. A fine and original hand-colored example of Homann's celebrated cartographic work, documenting this region of Germany with the precision and decorative artistry characteristic of the 17200s. Johann Baptist Homann (1664-1724) was the foremost map publisher of 18th-century Germany. Born in Bavaria, he founded his cartographic publishing house in Nuremberg in 1702 and within a decade had become the dominant force in German-language cartography. In 1715, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI appointed him Imperial Cartographer -- a prestigious title that gave Homann access to the most current geographic data and exclusive publishing privileges. His maps are celebrated for their bold copper engraving, elaborate Baroque cartouches, and vivid original hand coloring. Following Homann's death in 1724, the firm continued under the imprint 'Homann Heirs' (Homannsche Erben). His maps are held in major collections worldwide, including the Library of Congress, the British Library, and the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. This plate presents a original copperplate engraving, with original hand coloring depicting the city of Frankfurt, published in Nürnberg, 1720/40. Figural and allegorical staffage enriches the decorative border. Such topographic views from Homann's workshop are primary historical documents of German urban history in the 1700s, now prized equally by historians, map collectors, and interior decorators. Sheet measures 497 by 584mm (19 by 23 inches).. In good condition overall, with minor signs of age appropriate for a 18th-century engraving. Ready to frame.

Frankfurt - Johann Baptist Homann ∑ Hand-Colored Original Copperplate Engraving ∑ Nürnberg 1720