A plan of Lisbon with a prospect depicting the earthquake of 1755

SEUTTER, Matthäus.

Lisabona Magnificentissima Regia Sedes Portugalliae et Florentissimum Emporium ad Ostia Tagi Situm...
Augsburg: c.1755. Original colour. 500 x 585mm.

A scarce variant of Seutter's plan of Lisbon, printed from a new plate. Mostly It reproduces the original plan, but new fortifications and warehouses have been added in the port, and more buildings are named elsewhere.
The new plate is more obvious in the prospect under the plan, titled ''Ruin der Stadt Lisabona''. Instead of the serene view of a prosperous city, Lisbon is shown in flames as the people run to save themselves. Offshore the rough seas are sinking ships, with longboats struggling to reach shore.
The new plate was published in the aftermath of the earthquake of 1755, which, combined with a firestorm and a tsunami rushing in from the Atlantic, destroyed 85% of the city. The destruction of such an important city inspired the first scientific study an earthquake and, under the supervision of the Marquês de Pombal, the erection of the first buildings with anti-seismic features.


Stock ID : 20741