"Scenographia Totius Fabricae S. Laurentii in Escoriali", Ortelius/Vrients

Miniature version of one of the most unusual engravings included in Ortelius' atlas. When Ortelius designed the historical maps for his atlas he expressed his regret that the seven wonders of the ancient world no longer existed. He presented the view of El Escorial, the newly built seat of King Phillip II of Spain, as a modern counterpart. Latin text on verso.

This map was published in Filips Galle's series of Epitome, which first appeared in 1588. Galle was unimpressed with the maps in the Spieghel der Wereld, and therefore gradually replaced nearly all of them through the various editions of his Epitome. The new maps had simple double-lined borders and were widely copied by others. The plates were acquired by Jan Baptist Vrients circa 1600, who published three more editions in 1601 and 1602, retouching some of the plates and replacing a few more. By the time Vrients' 1601 edition was published, only 10 of the original maps remained.

References: King (2nd Ed.) pp. 64-65 & 88-89.

Condition: B+

A nice impression with light soiling.