Italy - Brunico, Puster Valley, South Tyrol; Matthäus Merian (1593 - 1650) - Braunegg - 1621-1650

Splendid and celebrated original prospect view on copper, engraved in the mid-17th century, depicting the historic town of Bruneck (Brunico / Braunegg), pearl of the Puster Valley in South Tyrol. The print offers a magnificent and detailed panorama of the medieval city surrounded by mountains, with the Rienz River flowing in the foreground. At the top of the hill rises in all its grandeur the famous Brunico Castle (Schloss Bruneck). At the bottom, an elegant ribbon cartouche contains a legend in German (from A to H) that identifies the main historical and religious points of interest, including the Castle (Das Schloss), the parish church (Pfarrkirch), the Church of Saint Catherine (S. Catharina) and the Wolkenstein residence (Wolckensteinisch haus).

The work was marvelously etched by the famous Swiss-German master Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593 - 1650). This specific sheet represents one of the most important and sought-after historical iconographies in print for the city of Bruneck and is taken from the monumental geographic-descriptive work "Topographia Provinciarum Austriacarum: Austriae, Styriae, Carinthiae, Carniolae, Tyrolis etc.", published in Frankfurt am Main starting from 1649 in collaboration with the historian Martin Zeiller.

The execution technique used is copper engraving by burin and aquaforte (etching) on contemporary laid paper, printed in black and white. Regarding the condition, the sheet presents in excellent condition, with a crisp, fresh, and contrasted inking, wide healthy margins, and the central editorial fold well preserved. A piece of great value and rarity, strongly sought after by collectors of cartography and vedutismo from Trentino-Alto Adige and historic Tyrol.

Dimensions 20 x 33 cm
Will be shipped by courier