SZEMAN, JOSEPH: VIEW OF ZAGREB

This is the first of nine sheets (the upper right corner) of the large map of the Diocese of Zagreb (Diocesis Zagrabiensis), dedicated to the Zagreb bishop Maksimilijan Vrhovac. According to M. Marković in his "Descriptio Croatiae": "The presentation is not particularly successful, but there are no better presentations of this kind from that time". However, in his later book, "Croatian Cities on Old Plans and Views", Marković says: "Many details are drawn true and reliable, but there are details that do not reflect the real situation." The panorama of Zagreb shows a view from the south, from today's Mesnička Street in the east to the church of St. Peter in the west. Attention was paid to the display of some buildings, and especially the summer residence of bishop Vrhovac in Vlaška Street. The cathedral is, of course, depicted as it looked before the great earthquake. Marković concludes: "Szemann's panorama should be accepted as a documentary graphic that deserves everybody's attention."