Title
Rohbock - Odorheiu Secuiesc, Udvarhely - 1864
Description
Old lithography signed by Ludwig Rohbock and Johann Hablitscheck and included in “Ungarn und Siebenbürgen in malerischen Original-Ansichten”, publisher Gustav Georg Lange, Darmstadt 1863-1864 with texts by János Hunfalvy. The engraving captures the town’s most significant religious and defensive landmarks as they stood around 1850.Aside from the prominent ruins in the foreground, you can identify several key historical buildings:
Székelytámadt Fortress (Csonkavár): The ruins dominating the foreground are the remains of the “Szekler-Attacked” castle. By the time Rohbock visited, it was already a picturesque ruin, and it serves as the central artistic focus of the piece.
The Reformed Church (Református templom): One of the tallest steeples visible in the town’s skyline belongs to the Reformed Church. The current baroque-style building was completed in the late 18th century (around 1782) and would have been a dominant landmark in Rohbock’s day.
The Baczkamadarasi Kis Gergely Reformed College: Located near the Reformed Church, this prestigious educational institution was already an established complex of buildings. You can often spot its long, multi-windowed facade in the town center section of the engraving.
The Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas: Usually visible on the hills or higher ground in the background of these panoramic views, this church is another staple of the historical Udvarhely skyline.
The Franciscan Church and Monastery: This complex, recognizable by its distinct architectural style, was a major part of the town’s religious fabric in the mid-19th century.
It is important to note that the City Hall (Városháza), which is one of the most famous buildings in the city today, was not built until 1896-1897. In Rohbock’s 1850s engraving, that space would have been occupied by older, smaller administrative buildings or part of the Lower Market.
Date
1864 ( undated )
Dimension
Picture size approx.: 11 x 16 cm
Author:
Ludwig Rohbock (1824–1893) was a German artist, renowed for his detailed architectural and landscape depictions across Central Europe.
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