Antique Maps by Francois de Belleforest (*1530 - 1583)

François de Belleforest was a French writer, translator and poet during the Renaissance. In 1568 he became historian of King Henry III, but had to give up soon because of inaccuracies. He worked as a writer and translator and transferred the Cosmography of Sebastian Munster into French. La Cosmographie universelle de tout le monde was published 1575 in Paris and was created in collaboration with the two Parisian publishers Nicolas Chesneau and Michel Sonnius. He has not used Sebastian Munster as sole source, several maps and views are based on Ortelius and Braun / Hogenberg, but also own work and unknown sources are found in the important work.

The picture shows the bust of Belleforest in Samatan (Gers, France). Source: Wikipedia, BastienM.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Pourtraict de la ville,& ancienne Cité de Lyon

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Ruled in brown ink. Decorated with a coat-of-arms and framed by a beautiful renaissance woodcut border. A key to the bottom...

    Pourtraict de la ville,& ancienne Cité de Lyon
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11662

    Antique woodcut town view of Lyon, Lyonnais. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    380,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville de Grenoble

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Grenoble in the Rhône-Alpes region. Ruled in brown ink. Extremely fine cut for a woodcut view. An extensive key to the top right describing the main buildings and...

    Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville de Grenoble
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11663

    Antique woodcut town view of Grenoble, Rhone-Alpes. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    390,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  La Ville de Romas en Dauphine / Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville et Cite de Romans

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Romans-sur-Isère in the Dauphiné region. Ruled in brown ink. Decorated with a title cartouche, two coat-of-arms of the city and many ships on the Isère. Extremely...

    La Ville de Romas en Dauphine / Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville et Cite...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11664

    Antique woodcut town view of Romans-sur-Isere, Dauphine. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    320,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  La Cite de Valence en Dauphine / Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville et Cite de Valence

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Valence in the Dauphiné region in the department Drôme. Ruled in brown ink. Decorated with a title cartouche, two coat-of-arms of the city and many ships on the...

    La Cite de Valence en Dauphine / Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville et Cite...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11665

    Antique woodcut town view of Valence, Drome, Dauphine. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    420,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Pourtraict de la ville d'Ambrun / La ville d'Ambrun en Dauphiné

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Embrun in the Dauphiné region in the department Hautes-Alpes. Ruled in brown ink. Framed by a beautiful renaissance woodcut border. A key to the bottom describing...

    Pourtraict de la ville d'Ambrun / La ville d'Ambrun en Dauphiné
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11666

    Antique woodcut town view of Embrun, Dauphine. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    270,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Le Pourtraict de la Ville de Marseille

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Marseille in the Provence. Decorated with several ship in the harbour and on the sea. To the left two keys describing the main buildings and places. Ruled in brown...

    Le Pourtraict de la Ville de Marseille
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11667

    Antique woodcut town view of Marseille, Provence. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    1 200,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Pourtraict de la Ville de Montpellier

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Montpellier in the Languedoc region. Ruled in brown ink. An extensive key to the bottom describing the main buildings and places.This woodcut was published in...

    Pourtraict de la Ville de Montpellier
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11671

    Antique woodcut town view of Montpellier, Languedoc. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    240,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  La vray Pourtraict de la Ville de Nismes / Nismes come elle est à present

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Nîmes in the Languedoc. Decorated with a coat-of-arms of the city. Extremely fine cut for a woodcut view. An extensive key to the bottom describing the main...

    La vray Pourtraict de la Ville de Nismes / Nismes come elle est à present
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11674

    Antique woodcut town view of Nimes, Languedoc. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    320,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Pourtraict de la Ville de Moissac

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Moissacin in the Languedoc, Midi-Pyrénées region. Decorated with a title cartouche. An extensive key to the bottom describing the main buildings and places....

    Pourtraict de la Ville de Moissac
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11675

    Antique woodcut town view of Moissac, Midi-Pyrenees, Languedoc. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    250,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville d'Auch / La Ville d'Auch en Armignag

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Auch in the Languedoc, Midi-Pyrénées region. Decorated with a title cartouche and two coat-of-arms. To the right a key describing the main buildings and places....

    Le vray Pourtraict de la Ville d'Auch / La Ville d'Auch en Armignag
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11676

    Antique woodcut town view of Auch, Midi-Pyrenees, Languedoc. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    250,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Ierusalem / Description de la Cité de Ierusalem... / Nouvelle description de la Cite de Ierusalem...

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A rare and early woodcut view of Ancient and Modern Jerusalem.This woodcut was published in La Cosmographie Universelle de tout le monde , printed 1575 in two volumes in Paris by Nicolas...

    Ierusalem / Description de la Cité de Ierusalem... / Nouvelle...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11677

    Antique woodcut town view of Jerusalem. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

    200,00 €
  • Francois de Belleforest:  Cyprus Insula

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A very scarce early woodcut map of Cypus. The double-folio map a based on Camoccio's map of 1566 via the Ortelius version of 1570. Below and verso description of Cyprus. Ruled in brown ink....

    Cyprus Insula
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11313

    Antique woodcut map of Cyprus. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Goa Fortissima Indiae Urbs in Chris Fianorum potesfatem anno Salutis 1509 deuenit

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of Goa in India. Decorated with two galleons. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. The view comes from the French edition of the...

    Goa Fortissima Indiae Urbs in Chris Fianorum potesfatem anno Salutis...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11362

    Antique woodcut map of Goa. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Le Vray Pourtrait de la grande cite de Temistitan ou Tenutlitan, chef du royaume, & Province...

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of Tenochtitlan, today Mexico City, the old capital city of the Aztecs, the Mexican civilization. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut and...

    Le Vray Pourtrait de la grande cite de Temistitan ou Tenutlitan, chef du...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11363

    Antique woodcut map of Mexico City. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  La Ville de Aden / Aden Cite Chef du Royaume.

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of the Port and City of Aden in the Gulf of Aden, Yemen. Decorated with many galleons. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. The view...

    La Ville de Aden / Aden Cite Chef du Royaume.
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11365

    Antique woodcut map of Aden, Yemen, Arabian Peninsula. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Mombaza

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of Mombasa, Kenya. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. The view comes from the French edition of the...

    Mombaza
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11416

    Antique woodcut town view of Mombasa, Kenya. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Malta olim Melita Insula.

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut map of Malta. As a woodcut map, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. Based on the engraved Malta map of Ortelius. The map comes from the French edition of...

    Malta olim Melita Insula.
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11419

    Antique woodcut map of Malta. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Canonor

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of Kannur formerly Cannanore in India. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. Based on the Kannur view of Braun and...

    Canonor
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11423

    Antique woodcut town view of Cannanore, Kannur. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  La Description de l'Isle de Corfou / Corfu

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut map of Corfu. As a woodcut map, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. Based on the engraved Corfu map of Ortelius. The map comes from the French edition of...

    La Description de l'Isle de Corfou / Corfu
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11425

    Antique woodcut map of Corfu. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Napoli Citta nella Provincia della Morea.

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of the city of Nafplio, Peloponnese. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. The view comes from the French edition...

    Napoli Citta nella Provincia della Morea.
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11430

    Antique woodcut town view of Nafplio, Peloponnese. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  Durraze, iadis Dyrrache, ville d'Albanie, prise par le Turc sur la Venitiens.

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of the second largest city of Albania Durres. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. Based on the copper engraving...

    Durraze, iadis Dyrrache, ville d'Albanie, prise par le Turc sur la...
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11431

    Antique woodcut town view of Durres, Albania. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  La Valone, iadis Apollonie, cite d'Albanie, a presant occuppee par le Turc.

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A scarce and early woodcut view of Vlora at the Adriatic coast during the occupation of the Turks. Ruled in brown ink. As a woodcut view, it is extremely fine cut. On the full text sheet. Based on...

    La Valone, iadis Apollonie, cite d'Albanie, a presant occuppee par le Turc.
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11432

    Antique woodcut town view of Vlora, Albania. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  [Tropic of Cancer - Tropic of Capricorn]

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A depiction of the tropics where the sun is in Zenith during the solstice.This woodcut was published in La Cosmographie Universelle de tout le monde , printed 1575 in two volumes in Paris by...

    [Tropic of Cancer - Tropic of Capricorn]
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11619

    A symbolic description of the tropics. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

  • Francois de Belleforest:  [Noah's Ark]

    Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575

    A very detailed woodcut of Noah's Ark.This woodcut was published in La Cosmographie Universelle de tout le monde , printed 1575 in two volumes in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau and Michel Sonnius...

    [Noah's Ark]
    1575 - Francois de Belleforest
    11620

    Woodcut of an old master drawing. Noah's Ark. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.

Accept We use cookies to optimize and continuously improve our website. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Further information on cookies can be found in our Privacy Statement.