France - Troyes (Troye) / Châlons-en-Champagne (Chaalons en Champaigne); Matthäus Merian il Vecchio (1593–1650) - TROYE / CHAALONS EN CHAMPAIGNE - 1621-1650

Important and splendid copper-engraved print from the seventeenth century that brings together on a single sheet the perspective views of the French towns of Troyes and Châlons-en-Champagne, two nerve centers of the historical province of Champagne. Ancient view of Troyes and Châlons-en-Champagne, 1638 .... The work was marvellously engraved by the famous Swiss-German master Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593–1650) and originally published in Frankfurt am Main starting from 1638. Troyes - Châlons-en-Champagne (Troyes and Châlons-en-Champagne, Ancient view of Troyes and Châlons-en-Champagne, 1638 .... In the upper view (“Troyes”) the superb city skyline is exalted, dominated by the monumental Gothic Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and by the spires of the numerous medieval churches, surrounded by the ancient walls and framed in the foreground by a lush rural landscape. The lower view (“Châlons-en-Champagne”) portrays the settlement from the bank of the Marne River, lined with small boats, highlighting the majestic Notre-Dame-en-Vaux Collegiate Church and the Cathedral of Saint Stephen. This second view is further beautified by an elegant noble heraldic coat of arms of the city placed in the upper right corner and by stage-like scenes featuring pedestrians and knights in the foreground. A classical plate of the highest engravers’ quality, of great interest to collectors of European urban views of the seventeenth century.

Dimensions 33 x 39 cm
Will be shipped by courier