Title
Rohbock - Brasov, Brassoban, Kronstadt Romanian Church - 1864
Description
Old steel engraving signed by Ludwig Rohbock and Georg Michael Kurz, included in the historic work ‘Ungarn und Siebenbürgen in malerischen Original-Ansichten’, published by Gustav Georg Lange (Darmstadt, 1863-1864) with accompanying texts by János Hunfalvy.
The engraving captures the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Scheii Brasovului.
Visual Composition and DetailsThe Church
The historic church dominates the center of the print. It features its iconic high central tower flanked by four smaller corner spires. This architectural style historically represented the town’s jus gladii (the right of judicial execution).
The Landscape
Mount Tâmpa rises steeply in the background. Its rocky cliffs and vegetation are rendered with fine, dense parallel lines characteristic of high-quality mid-19th-century steel engraving.
The Foreground Genre Scene
The bottom half portrays an idyllic scene of daily life outside the fortress walls of Brașov. It captures traditional village houses, a horse- or ox-drawn cart on the right, local residents dressed in traditional clothing (including women in veils), dogs, and a small creek with a wooden bridge on the left.
The Archway
A stone archway and gate stand in the middle ground, serving as the entrance to the church courtyard.
Margins and Inscriptions
The text printed in the margins provides the complete publishing credits for the artwork: Bottom Left: L. Rohbock del. (Drawn by Ludwig Rohbock). Bottom Center: Druck & Verlag v. G. G. Lange in Darmstadt (Printed and published by G. G. Lange in Darmstadt, Germany). Bottom Right: G. M. Kurz sculp. (Engraved by Georg Michael Kurz). Main Title (Hungarian): A ROMÁN TEMPLOM BRASSÓBAN. (The Romanian Church in Brașov). Main Title (German): WALLACHISCHE KIRCHE IN KRONSTADT. (Wallachian Church in Kronstadt).
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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