VIENNE

VIENNE

£45

Interesting copper engraving of Vienne with Castle and Rhone, Daniel Meisner first published his "Thesaurus Philo-politicus" in 1623 and is later known as the "Sciographia Cosmica" this series continued to be expanded under it's publisher Eberhard Kieser's (Neurenberg) supervision after Meisner's death in 1625. Each engraving is distinguished by a motto above the image and emblematic verses (usually in Latin and German) beneath. The work is a fascinating combination of two popular genres - the Emblem Book and the books of Town Plans, e.g. Braun and Hogenberg. The allegorical imagery is often cryptic, even bizarre - but always fascinating. Among the master engravers and illustrators that contributed to this series, usually working from earlier sources, were Matthäus Merian, Sebastian Furck, Christian Stimmer and possibly Meisner himself, who conceived the work and contributed many of the verses. It is remarkable that these relatively small size etching are often more precize and accurate than other and later works. In the introduction of his original work Meisner is called 'Poeta Laureatus' or 'Celebrated Poet'. Mint condition.