Large View of Prague from the Petřín Hill

In 1636 in Cologne, Wenceslaus Hollar met his future patron, the English nobleman Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. Hollar joined the Earl’s diplomatic mission which, among other destinations, also took him to Prague, his native city he had left at the age of twenty. The drawing shows a group of tourists taking in the panoramic view of Prague from Petřín Hill. Seen to the left is the Strahov Monastery and to the right, Prague Castle with the soaring tower of the Gothic St. Vitus’ Cathedral and further to the right the two spires of St George’s Church. Nestled at the foot of the castle is the Lesser Town (showing the steeples of the Johannite monastery) that is connected with the Old and New Towns by the Gothic Charles Bridge. The towers of the Gothic Týn Church are plainly visible in the area of the Old Town Square. Nonetheless, for a better understanding of the terrain, Hollar manipulated the view so as to clearly show all of the city’s landmarks. The signature inscribed next to the figure of one of the gentlemen studying a map has led to the assumption that this could have been the artist’s self-portrait.