The City of Siegen

The city view of Siegen by Merian is very much based on that of the printmaker Wilhelm Dilich of 1605, which the latter recorded for his chronicle of Hesse. It shows the city from the River Sieg side, lying on a hill and surrounded by a city wall. A stone bridge over the River Sieg with a watchtower, a mill and the towers of St. Martin’s Church (Martinikirche), the Church of St. Nicholas (Nikolaikirche) and the Upper Castle are all clearly visible. Born in Basel, Merian worked as an engraver and publisher of numerous maps, city views and chronicles. His magnum opus is the book series Topographia Germaniae, the volumes of which were published from 1642 onwards.