11500 François de Belleforest (1530–1583) – View of the City and Castle of Loches – France – Engraving (1575)
"La Ville et Chasteau de Loches." This engraving presents a detailed bird's-eye view of the fortified town and royal castle of Loches in the Touraine region. The composition illustrates the medieval defensive walls, the massive rectangular keep, and the collegiate church of Saint-Ours. The Indre River flows along the left side of the town, with several watermills and bridges depicted in detail. A comprehensive numerical and alphabetical key is divided into two decorative cartouches on the left, identifying twenty-eight significant locations including city gates, monastic buildings, and specific bastions. This work was published in Paris as part of La Cosmographie Universelle de tout le monde, an ambitious geographical encyclopedia that served as a major source of urban topography in the late sixteenth century.
François de Belleforest was a prolific French author, poet, and translator who served as a royal historiographer during the Renaissance. While he began his career writing poetry and translating classical works, he is best remembered for his massive editorial projects in history and geography. His French edition of Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia was significantly expanded with new descriptions and detailed city plans of French provinces. Belleforest’s work was essential in documenting the architectural and political landscape of France during the Wars of Religion. His legacy remains significant for providing some of the earliest and most accurate visual records of French provincial towns before modern urban redevelopment.
Artist or Maker: François de Belleforest.
Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 34 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1575.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Värdering | 200 - 300 SEK |
| Köparprovision (inkl. moms) | 24.4% |
| Slagavgift (inkl. moms) | 6 SEK |
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