Burgos in Spain, Antique View of the Cathedral Spires, circa 1850

A view of the city of Burgos in Castile with its cathedral, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption beneath the image reads ANSICHT VON BURGOS / in Spanien, in English view of Burgos in Spain.

The two openwork spires of the cathedral rise at the left of the plate, with the octagonal lantern and its pinnacles at the center and a second group of spires on a church at the right. In front of them stands a fortified city gate with round towers and carved figures over the arch, at the right of center, and walls with a round tower run along the left. A stone bridge with figures crosses at the right, cattle stand in the shallows of the river across the foreground, and figures stand and sit on the bank at the left.

No artist or engraver is named on the sheet. Below the caption, the imprint at the left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Inst. in Hildbh. (from the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen), and at the right Eigenthum d. Verleger (property of the publishers). The plate number CCII is engraved at the top right, above the image.

The imprint is that of Meyer's Universum, a serial collection of engraved views with descriptive text, published by Joseph Meyer's Bibliographisches Institut at Hildburghausen from 1833, its plates engraved on steel. The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. The two openwork spires of Burgos cathedral were built by Juan de Colonia in the fifteenth century.

A few small foxing spots in the margin. Corners and edges are not shown by this scan. Clean, even paper tone in the margin.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.