"Scenographia Totius Fabricae S. Laurentii in Escoriali", Ortelius, Abraham

This beautiful bird's-eye view depicts King Phillip II's newly built monastery-palace that is based on the 1587 plan by Petrus Perret. This view is looking east with Madrid just visible near the horizon. The massive structure occupies more than 40,000 square feet and has 12,000 windows and doors. Designed by the Spanish architect Juan Bautista de Toledo who had worked in Italy assisting Michelangelo at St. Peter's, it was built to commemorate the king's victory over the French at St. Quentin in 1577. The palace also contains the mausoleum of Philip's father, Charles V. Directly behind the palace is the hamlet of Escorial, which housed workmen and provided quarters for the monks who later lived within. Latin text on verso, published in 1603.

References: Van den Broecke #233.

Condition: B+

There are several small abrasions along the centerfold resulting in minor loss of image.