(After) Basilius Besler Art

This beautiful 19th century framed hand-colored engraving is entitled "St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall" by J. Saddler after an original painting by the British artist Myles Birket Fost...

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of Frankfort, Germany entitled "Francenbergum, vel ut alij Francoburgum Hassiae Opp" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, from their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1595. This is an English translation of an excerpt from the original text in the atlas: "Frankenberg or, according to others, Francoburgum, a town in Hesse. Charlemagne vested the town of Frankenberg with many freedoms and privileges, which it still enjoys to this day, and on account of its valiant and victorious soldiers awarded a signet, upon which there formerly appeared a golden castle with a tower, together with the letter F and a golden crown. Frankenberg, seen here from the northeast, lies on a hill above the River Eder. The hillside is covered with fields neatly separated by bushes and fences. Soaring above the town is the massive Liebfrauenkirche, which was modelled on St Elizabeth's church in Marburg. The New Town was founded in 1335 at the foot of the hill (right) and merged with the Old Town as late as 1556. Frankenberg was founded by Conrad of Thuringia in 1233/34 to prevent the archbishops of Mainz from expanding their sphere of influence...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "The Fighting Temeraire" by James Tibbetts Willmore is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner. It was published by James S. Virtue & Co. in London between 1859-1875. It depicts the once mighty British warship the HMS Temeraire being towed away down the river Thames by a much smaller steamboat to a ship-breaking yard to be broken up for scrap. The Temeraire was first launched in 1798 and represented the pinnacle of British ship-building. 180-feet long, constructed of English oak and armed with 98 guns, she was one of the largest warships of the period. The Temeraire became a symbol of British pride and military power that endured throughout the 19th century. The man-of-war served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was among the last serving ships to have been at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It became one of the many older ships put out of service in the 1830s and 1840s. The once mighty and feared ship symbolizes a once magnificent, but now obsolete, technology. Turner seems to lament her inglorious final journey, being towed by a less magnificent, but modern steam powered tugboat. The Turner painting was created in 1838 and is now held in the National Gallery in London. Willmore's engraving, created in 1859, captures the dramatic scene with great detail and skill. The image has become an iconic representation of the decline of Britain's naval power and the transition from sail to steam in the 19th century. The sunset in the background is symbolic of the sun going down on British naval power and tradition. The painting conveys profound and diverse themes that are central to the human experience: those of mortality and change, technology and progress, heroism and brutality. The painting demonstrates Turner’s skill as an artist. His ability to produce scenes of great beauty that are dramatic, but are also symbolic, stimulating both thoughtful analysis, as well as emotion. Turner's painting was voted by the British public in a 2005 BBC radio sponsored survey to be the British people's favorite painting of all time. In 2020 it was included on a new British banknote...

This is a 17th century hand-colored map entitled "Hibernia Regnum Vulgo Ireland" by Johannes Janssonius's (Jan Jansson), published in Amsterdam in 1640. This highly detailed map depicts the Emerald Isle with an extensive display of towns, roads, mountains, rivers, lakes and county borders, etc. It includes two decorative cartouches on the left. The title cartouche includes the Irish harp and the second, in the upper left, includes a lion wearing a crown on the left, a unicorn on the right and a coat-of-arms in the middle, which includes another Irish harp. A distance scale is seen in the lower right, augmented with two putti. The map is embellished with three sailing ships and a sea monster. Western portions of Scotland and England...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Scarborough" by W. Chapman is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner. It was published in London by ...

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of a bird's-eye View of Embden, Germany entitled " Emuda, vulgo Embden vrbs Frisia orientalis primaria" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, in volume II of their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1575. This is a beautifully colored and detailed map of Emden, a seaport in northwestern Germany, along the Ems River and perhaps portions of over Dollart Bay, near the border with the Netherland. The map depicts a bird's-eye view of the city from the southwest, as well as a view of the harbor and an extensive system of canals. Numerous ships of various sizes, as well as two rowboats containing numerous occupants are seen in the main waterway in the foreground and additional boats line two canals in the center of the city. Two men and two women are shown on a hill in the foreground on the right, dressed in the 16th century style of nobility. Two ornate crests are included in each corner. A title strap-work cartouche is in the upper center with the title in Latin. The crest on the right including Engelke up de Muer (The Little Angel on the Wall) was granted by Emperor Maximilian I in 1495. This is an English translation of an excerpt of Braun's description of Embden: "In Emden, the capital of East Frisia, rich merchants live in very fine houses. The city has a broad and well-situated harbour, which in my opinion is unique in Holland. Frisia and the whole of the Netherlands, for the ships can anchor here right under the city walls. They have also extended the harbour as far as the New Town, so that up to 400 ships can now find shelter here when the sea is rough." The emphasis on the harbor and waterways within the city highlights the importance of Emden's place as a seaport at this time. Embden developed from a Dutch/Flemish trading settlement in the 7th-8th centuries into a city as late as late 14th century. In 1494 it was granted staple rights, and in 1536 the harbour was extended. In the mid-16th century Emden's port was thought to have the most ships in Europe. Its population then was about 5,000, rising to 15,000 by the end of the 16th century. The Ems River flowed directly under the city walls, but its course was changed in the 17th century by the construction of a canal. Emden has canals within its city limits, a typical feature of Dutch towns, which also enabled the extension of the harbor. In 1744 Emden was annexed by Prussia and is now part of Germany. It was captured by French forces in 1757 during the Seven Years' War, but recaptured by Anglo-German forces in 1758. During the Napoleonic French era, Emden and the surrounding lands of East Frisia were part of the short-lived Kingdom of Holland. References:Van der Krogt 4, 1230, State 2; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg...

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of Tournai, Belgium, entitled "Tornacum" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, in volume IV of their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne or Augsberg, Germany in 1575. The map provides a bird's-eye view of the walled city of Tournai, the second oldest city in Belgium. It lies approximately one hour by car southwest of Brussels or from Ghent. The names of thirty of its streets, prominent buildings, churches and squares are listed in a key within a strap-work cartouche in the lower left. These locations are numbered in the key corresponding to their locations on the map. This colorful map of Tournai (Tornacum or Tournay as it was called in the 16th century) includes the title in Latin in a cartouche in the upper center. Three crests are present across the upper map. A man and two woman are standing on a hill in the foreground in the lower right dressed in the style of 16th century upper class residents of the town. This is an English translation of an excerpt of Braun's description of Tornai: “Tornacum or Turnacum is a city in Gallia Belgica, situated on the Schelde in the territory of the Nervii, called Tournai by its French inhabitants, but Dorneck by the Germans. Tournai has always been a large and powerful city, with an abundance of goods and commercial activities and wonderfully resourceful craftsmen, who invent new articles every day, and although some of these go out of use they constantly conceive of other new things, both useful and delightful, so that they have at all times something that provides work and a means of livelihood for the poor." ReferencesVan der Krogt 4, 4435, State 1; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Line Fishing Off Hastings" by William Miller is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner, which depicts a scene of fishermen at work off the coast of the town of Hastings in East Sussex, England. The Miller engraving faithfully reproduces Turner's painting, capturing the same atmospheric quality and sense of motion. In the foreground of the image, a group of fishermen are shown in a small boat, with one man using a fishing line to catch fish. In the background, there is a larger ship, along with a view of the town of Hastings and the cliffs beyond. Overall, the Miller engraving "Line Fishing Off Hastings" is a beautiful and detailed representation of Turner's original painting, and provides a glimpse into life in a 19th century fishing community. This colorful 19th century engraving is presented in a gold-colored wood frame and a cream-colored French mat highlighted with a light blue band and thinner mustard and gold-colored bands. There is a gold-colored fillet which further embellishes the engraving. The frame measures 18" high, 20.5" wide and 1" deep. The engraving, frame and mat are in excellent condition. Joseph Mallord William (J.M.W.) Turner (1775-1851) was an English painter who is widely considered one of the greatest landscape painters in Western art history. Born in London, he showed a remarkable talent for art from a young age, and studied at the Royal Academy of Arts from the age of 14. He quickly gained recognition for his watercolor landscapes, which were highly innovative and expressive. Turner's style evolved over time, and he became increasingly interested in the effects of light and color. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, and his experiences of the natural world, particularly the sea and the sky, had a profound influence on his art. His paintings are known for their luminosity, atmospheric effects, and dramatic use of color. Despite facing criticism and ridicule from some of his contemporaries, Turner continued to push the boundaries of art, experimenting with new techniques and styles throughout his career. He was a prolific artist, creating thousands of paintings, sketches, and watercolors, and his legacy continues to inspire artists today. William Miller (1796-1882) was an English engraver and publisher, best known for his work in reproducing the paintings of J.M.W. Turner. Miller was born in Bristol and began his career as an engraver at a young age, working for a variety of publications and artists. In the early 1820s, Miller began working with Turner, engraving many of the artist's most famous works, including "The Fighting Temeraire...

"The Elevation of a New Design of my Own Invention in the Style of Inigo Jones, Is most humbly Inscribed to his Grace the Duke of Argyle & Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter", plate 20 from Colen Campbell's first edition of "Vitruvius Britannicus...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Dover" by Thomas Lupton is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner, which depicts a panoramic view of the harbor of Dover, a town in southeastern England, that has been an important port for centuries. The engraving captures the dramatic sky and sea that Turner was known for, with billowing clouds and waves crashing against the shore. The town and its famous white cliffs are visible in the background, while ships and boats dot the harbor in the foreground. Several wooden rowboats...

LITHOGRAPHS Greenwich Village NYC by the American photorealist artist John Baeder is a limited edition mezzotint printed using hand printmaking techniques on archival, cream colored ...

This is a framed 16th century map and city view of Canterbury, England entitled "Cantuarbury" by Braun & Hogenburg, from their famous landmark atlas of city views 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' (Atlas of the Cities of the World), which was first published in Cologne, Germany in 1572. The map of Canterbury was first published in 1588. It depicts a detailed birdseye view of the completely walled and fortified city of Canterbury, with its cathedral the most prominent feature. The coat of arms of England, Canterbury, and the Archbishop of Canterbury are included. This beautifully hand-colored map is presented in a gold-colored wood frame with a beaded inner trim and a paprika-colored mat that highlights details in the map. The frame measures 18.75" high by 22.25" wide by 0.875" deep. There is a central vertical fold, as issued. The map is in excellent condition. Braun and Hogenberg's 'The Civitates Orbis Terrarum' was the second atlas of maps ever published and the first atlas of cities and towns of the world. It is one of the most important books published in the 16th century. Most of the maps in the atlas were engraved by Franz Hogenberg and the text, with its descriptions of the history and additional factual information of the cities, was written by a team of writers and edited by Georg Braun. The work contained 546 bird-eye views and map views of cities and towns from all over the world. It gave graphic representation of the main features of the illustrated cities and towns, including the buildings and streets. Although the ordinary buildings are stylized, the principal buildings are reproduced from actual drawings created on location. The principal landmarks and streets can still be recognized today. In addition, the maps often include the heraldic arms of the city, the nature of the surrounding countryside, the important rivers, streams and harbors, even depicting stone bridges, wooden pontoons, flat-bottomed ferries, ships and working boats, wharves and jetties, as well as land-based activities, including horsemen, pedestrians, wagons, coaches, and palanquins. Small vignettes are often included which illustrate the trade, occupations and habits of the local inhabitants, such as agriculture, paper-making and textiles, as well as local forms of punishment, such as gibbets, wheels, floggings etc. Large figures dressed in their local costume are often presented out of proportion in the foreground. The aim of the authors was to give as much information as possible in a pleasing visual form. They succeeded in creating maps that were both informative and decorative works of art. The atlas is a wonderful glimpse of life in medieval Europe. Georg Braun (1541-1622) was German Catholic...