Liège – Leodium

Liège commented by Braun (on verso)

“There are many cities that are blessed by the Lord in different ways and are praised by all, some for their grain, others for their wine, their iron or copper, others for their beautiful and magnificent city walls and houses, others again for their favourable location on navigable rivers. But Liège surpasses all these cities, for the Lord God has furnished it with all the aforementioned virtues together […]. I must say as much as possible about the River Meuse, however, for it is not only the city’s greatest jewel but also its greatest asset, for of what use to a city are its own riches if it cannot exchange them for other vital necessities from other lands in a sensible manner?”

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT LEFT: The origins of Liège (Lat. Augusta Eburonum) are traced by Hubertus Thomas Leodius back to Ambiorix, the magnanimous king of the Eburones […]. There are eight colleges of canons, four splendid abbeys, 32 parish churches, numerous monasteries and nunneries, for which reason Francesco Petrarch has observed that Liège is noted for its clergy. To the south lies a large forest, to the north fertile pastures with vines and fruit and the other necessities of life, watered by clear and lovely streams. The liberal arts are also prized here; no less than nine young kings, 23 dukes, 29 counts and many barons and the children of the nobility have been educated here.

The middle cartouche expresses thanks to the bisshop of Liège, Gerhard von Groesbeck, who provided the original on which the illustration was based.

Taschen on Liège

The magnificently designed engraving of Liège takes up the rapturous tone of Braun’s description and shows the city with the Meuse flowing in its favourable location amongst gentle hills, sturdy trees and fertile fields. Presented in spatial depth and exuding a striking sense of animation, it is one of the most successful landscapes in Braun and Hogenberg’s city atlas.
In 1468 Liège was attacked by Charles the Bold and set alight, profoundly altering the medieval face of the city. From the second half of the 15th century onwards much of the city was rebuilt in the contemporary style. The illustration shows the Ourthe flowing into the Meuse and the concentration of buildings in the city centre with its soaring churches and hospices. The cathedral of Saint-Lambert (20), which would later be destroyed in the upheaval of the French Revolution, is impressively documented. The Gothic collegiate church of Saint-Paul (26, centre right) was made Liège’s new cathedral. Examples of Romanesque architecture include the collegiate churches of Saint-Denis (right, 28), Saint-Barthélemy (32) and the church of Saint-Martin (far left), which was built in the Gothic style in the early 16th century.