1720 – G. Bodenehr – Die Stadt Riga

Title:                     Die Stadt RIGA mitt Ihren Vorstaelten und projectirten Neuen Wercken
                                      (The City of Riga with its Suburbs and Projected New Works)
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Description:

This is a detailed bird’s-eye plan of Riga, the capital of Livonia, by the Augsburg engraver and publisher Gabriel Bodenehr the Elder. It comes from his atlas Force d’Europe, a collection of some 200 plans of the most important fortresses and cities of Europe.

The plan shows Riga on the Daugava (“Duna Flus”) at the time of the Great Northern War. The walled Old Town is crowded with ships along its quay. Around it the suburbs are enclosed by a wide ring of new bastions, marked “Neue doch noch Unperfectioni[rte] Befestigungs Wercke” (new but still unfinished fortification works). Places marked include:

• in the suburbs, the Jesus Church, St George’s Hospital, the “Mühlen Wasser” stream with a windmill, and the river islands of Teufelsholm, Knüttelsholm and Schlossholm;
• across the river, the star-shaped Kober Schantz (Kobron fort).

A key numbers thirteen places, from the Castle, the Cathedral (“Der Domm”), St James, St Peter, St John and the Town Hall to the Marstall, Badstube, Neupforte, St James, Castle and Sand bastions and the Sand Tower and Gate. Two decorative cartouches hold the title “Die Stadt RIGA in Liefland” and the arms of Riga. The imprint reads “G. Bodenehr fec. et excud. Cum Gr. et Priv. Sac. Caes. Maj.”

Cartographer/Artist:        Gabriel Bodenehr the Elder (1673–1765)

Publisher:                              Gabriel Bodenehr, Augsburg

Atlas:                                      Force d’Europe oder die Merckwürdigst- und Fürnehmste… Stætte, Vestungen, Seehaefen…, plate 152
Frame size:                            44,0 x 33,3 cm
Year:                                          1720
Technique:                             copper engraving

Reference:                              Force d’Europe, pl. 152

Condition:
Very good. Clear impression with attractive hand colouring. It is framed under a cream mount in a gilt frame, behind glass.

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This is an original antique map published in 1720 and NOT a modern copy or reprint