- Title: Abbildung der 4. Waldtstatten See
- Author: Matthäus Merian
- Date: c.1650
- Medium: Copperplate engraving
- Condition: Very Good Plus - light foxing, center fold as issued, strong and dark impression
- Inches: 20 1/4 x 11 [Platemark]
- Centimeters: 51.44 x 27.94 [Platemark]
- Product ID: 312008
Effigies Quatuor urbium Silvaticu Lacus
Abbildung der 4. Waldtstatten See
Map of the region surrounding Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, in German called Vierwaldstättersee or "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons." Numbered legend lists 210 landmarks, buildings, and establishments of the area.
Matthaus Merian the Elder was born in Basel, Switzerland on the 22nd of September 1593. He began his career in the arts with the engraver Friedrich Meyer in Zurich, where he studied copper engraving as well as drawing. In 1619 he went to Frankfurt and was employed by the well-known publisher Johann Theodor de Bry. He would go on to take over and complete two works started in 1590 by de Bry, Grand Voyages and Petit Voyages respectively. Merian the Elder is perhaps most known for the work he produced in partnership with Martin Zeiller titled Topographia, one of the largest publishing works at the time, which ultimately totaled 21 volumes. The work was continued by Merian’s sons Matthaus the Younger and Caspar upon his death in June of 1650.