Rodríguez Méndez, Francisco Javier y García Gago, Jesús María . 2014. “Wyngaerde en Zamora”. EGE Revista de Expresión Gráfica en la Edificación . Nº 8. P. 67-75 y 141-145. ISSN: 1888-8143

WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA

Francisco Javier Rodríguez Méndez. University of . Jesús María García Gago. University of Salamanca.

ABSTRACT

Flemish cartographer Anton Van den Wyngaerde was commissioned by Philip II to gather panoramic sketches of the major Spanish cities and towns. Between 1562 and 1570, Wyngaerde explored the peninsula's geography on three different trips, resulting in 57 panoramas in almost as many locations.

In 1986, the book “Spanish Cities of the Golden Age” made Antonio de las Viñas’ Spanish views known and since then, many researchers have gazed through these open windows into the past.

To achieve a perfect representation, Wyngaerde included some of the typical repertoire of techniques in his View of Zamora : combining a range of perspectives, elevation to unrealistic heights... These techniques are analyzed in this paper using geometric restitution of perspective, virtually reconstructing the city of Zamora in the 16th century and using aerial photography.

Keywords (max. 4):

Wyngaerde, Chorography, Geometric restitution of perspective, Zamora.

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WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA INTRODUCTION Master Plan from 1998 (3) and Andalucia and finally Castille in the 2004 (4) respectively. In both third. In 1986 the book Spanish cities of papers Wyngaerde’s drawing the Golden age: the views of Anton played an important role in ARRIVAL TO ZAMORA AND van den Wyngaerde (1) was supporting certain interpretations PRELIMINARY WORKS published in . This colossal regarding the walled enclosures of work, edited by Richard L. Kagan – Zamora. During his third and last journey in its large-format and meticulous The aim of this paper is to analyze 1570, Wyngaerde started out once presentation increasing its price tag the graphical procedures used by more from , the capital of the – did not become a bestseller but Wyngaerde on the basis of the kingdom, to carry out views of the without doubt has since then Southern view of the city – the only cities of Avila, Alba de Tormes, become one of the most consulted one known of Zamora. Tordesillas and again to Medina del and coveted reference books for Campo. The three routes have the many people from different THE SPANISH VIEWS OF been established by Kagan in CGA fields of knowledge who have on the basis of the dates appearing started to explore the historical WYNGAERDE next to the signature of each of his evolution of cities. views and taking into account the The chronology of the life of the In almost all research papers on journey’s logic (5). Anton van den Wyngaerde is rather any of the cities that were sketched nebulous. We only know for certain One may well imagine the arrival of in the book Cities of the Golden the place and year of his death: the cartographer to Zamora, Age (CGA), the Flemish artist is Madrid, 1571. His birth is thought to accompanied by his cohort of mentioned and many contain a have taken place in but surveyors and assistants. News reproduction of the relevant sketch. the date is unkown. Anton Van den about him and his activities were There are a great number of papers Wyngaerde was considered at that already undoubtedly known, as studying Wyngaerde’s views –as a time to be one of the best many of the towns had already general theme or focusing in one cartographers specialising in urban received his attention in previous view in particular- as part of their views and from 1552 provided his visits for long periods of time. By archaeological, urbanistic, services to the Spanish Crown, 1570 a sovereign ordinance architectural or historical research. travelling on its behalf to Flanders addressed to “town councils and Here, special mention should be and . After a certain period courts, councillors, knights, officers made of the conscientious study by of time Philip II commissioned him and gentlemen of all the cities Antonio Sánchez del Barrio on La to visit the Iberian Peninsula and belonging to these, my realms and estructura urbana de Medina del prepare the large-scale inventory of seigneuries of Castille” (6) required, Campo (2) [The urban structure of the Kingdom’s chief towns and under a penalty of 1000 Medina del Campo], in which we cities. This ambitious project maravedíes, to provide Wyngaerde find a whole chapter dedicated to demanded by the Spanish king was and his companions with a positive the two views of Medina drawn by of a strategic and military nature. reception, including food and Wyngaerde. It is also the first and lodging, which was to be paid for by one of the most serious references His first tour began in 1562, the the municipality. The necessity of to Anton van den Wyngaerde since second one in 1567 and the third in such an ordinance suggests to us the publication of CGA . 1570, just one year before his early us he had not been provided with death. The three journeys We have come a long way with these up to this point. commenced at the Spanish Court. regard to the study of the view of In the first one he covered the cities Assuming, as Kagan states, the the city of Zamora. In order to of La Mancha, Aragon, Catalonia Flemish artist, arrived to Zamora demonstrate, mention should also and the Levante. In the second he from Salamanca, his first be made of two papers about the covered Extremadura and perspective of the city was exactly walls of Zamora and on the city’s the one he depicted in his view.

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This should come as no surprise, cathedral) are left for us to see. It is possible. as that view is the one that best quite possible that this building expresses the impregnable served as housing for Wyngaerde The South bank of the river Douro lacks sufficient elevation (even from character of the ancient citadel, and his cohorts. Logistically the top floor of the now with the river Douro dominating speaking, this was the best base dissapeared Convent of Saint from the top of the cliff. they would find to prepare the Jerome) to provide a view from Draughtsmen and photographers panoramic view. have always used this perspective which the inner part of the city – to immortalize the city as did, for One can do no more than much the less its northern slope – example, Muirhead Bone or J. speculate regarding the time spent could be seen. Fig.2, photograph Laurent. and the kinds of activities taken from the left bank, shows undertaken before creating the final only the buildings closest to the In some of the panoramic views view; there are no known written rocky escarpment. For this reason (Toro or Jaen for example) the records bearing evidence of the Anton van den Wyngaerde would viewpoint and line of vision are draughtsman’s stay in Zamora (7). have been forced to use the routine made visible by the author by Over a period of several weeks, recourse under these including one or several characters assistants and Wyngaerde himself circumstances, i.e. to choose an in the act of drawing. This is not the most likely explored the city in imaginary point of view and an case in the view of Zamora, where depth, searching for relevant data: elevation convenient for his the Monastery of Saint Jerome is the urban structure, purposes. the element which is most identifying the most pertinent Therefore, in these cases the view prominent, being as it is in the buildings, transcribing toponymic needed to be “built” by using foreground (Fig. 1). This items, carrying out height various sketches (made by artistic renaissance monument was measurements of the towers and observation from nature) and disentailed and went into private other protruding elements, etc. One applying them to a floor plan of the hands which precipitated its almost might well doubt somewhat city. The creation of preparatory complete ruin. Only the whether some of these preliminary drawings was a common practice foundations, buried under earth and works were necessary and reach for Wyngaerde, as evidenced by mounds of undergrowth, remain in the conclusion that it was a the large number of them belonging situ . Only the vivid picture in the freehand view-drawing as the to other cities other than Zamora view and some columns and characters which appear in the that have been preserved. We don’t arches of the cloister (now drawing suggest. In the case of know of any reliable city plan from relocated to the atrium of the Zamora it would not have been Zamora prior to the fortification project of 1766 and it is very unlikely that any plan of sufficient quality was available two centuries before. Among the preliminary works carried out by Wyngaerde, a topographic survey of the urban area and its setting was thus certainly carried out. The objective of this paper is not to formulate hypothesis about the method employed by Wyngaerde when carrying out his preliminary

document. Nontheless, from the different types of urban surveys Fig. 1: View of Zamora. Detail, in the foreground, of the Monastery of San Jerónimo. Source: Kagan, R. L., op. cit., p. 370. described by Fernando Arévalo, I have opted for the simplest one

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WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA called survey “by polygons” (8) the main buildings and major roads In order to calculate the viewpoint which consists in directly followed by the city’s blocks (11). used by Wyngaerde, the above- measuring the different polygons Almost all the views reveal three described operations need to be forming blocks and then fit them in layers, each with a declining level made but in a different order: using the walled enclosure of the city. A of detail: foreground, middle plane a map of the city, lines crossing the royal decree of 1563 (Philip II) and background (12). It is widely buildings which appear in the view includes a detailed description of a accepted that the artist made direct simple survey procedure which notes about the buildings, streets could very likely be the one used and squares of the foreground and by Wyngaerde’s land-surveyors for ‘built’ the rest of the city – which he obtaining the walled enclosure plan could not see directly from his (9). viewpoint – behind this “façade” (13). Fernando Arévalo also includes a reference to the execution of urban Once he had a scale ground plan of Fig. 3: View of the Convent of San Francisco, perspectives from the ground plan the city with the location of the most as it would be seen from the upper gallery of the Convent of San Jerónimo. Source: corresponding to a document from notable buildings, the next step was Copyright of the author. 1589. In it Cristóbal de Rojas, a to decide on a suitable viewpoint military engineer of Manchegan from which to make the perspective of Zamora will be drawn near the origin, states his intention of projections. This allowed Anton van vertical line. In the absence of a carrying out a city plan “so that I den Wyngaerde to mark vertical map closer to the present date, and can then paint it and draw it from lines on the paper drawings, where taking into account that during the nature in the style of other existing he then fitted the detail drawings last two centuries there has not drawings of cities (10). previously taken from nature. In this occurred any appreciable urban case, the detail drawings were development, I have used one of CITY OF ZAMORA’S VIEW made from the upper galleries of 1766 made for a fortification plan the Convent of San Jerónimo, at that was never carried out (14). ANALYSIS that time an extraordinary city The result of this manoeuvre, observatory, now a mere shown in Fig. 4, is that there is not Before going on to analyse the view archaeological site. Proof of this just one but two viewpoints used for of Zamora, there are some lies in the fact that the view of the making the panoramic view of common characteristics (graphic Convent of San Francisco, as it Zamora. The point P1, which we constants) repeated in almost all of would be seen from the upper will call the primary point, is located the urban views drawn by gallery of San Jerónimo (Fig. 3) is over the perpendicular of the rear Wyngaerde that must be exactly the same as the view drawn façade of the Convent of San emphasized. It seems clear that the by Wyngaerde (Fig. 9). Jerónimo. This perpendicular is draughtsman first depicted all of drawn through the centre of the

Fig. 2: General View of Zamora (c. 1860). J. Laurent. Source: Archivo Ruiz Vernacci. IPHE. Ministerio de Educación y Cultura. Sig. C-435.

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southeast cloister, at a distance of It is my opinion that the choice of The use of more than one 416 meters (506 varas castellanas) the primary viewpoint P1 (located viewpoint is not unique to Zamora. from said centre. at the perpendicular through the Sánchez del Barrio, for example, centre of the main cloister of the has found three in the view of The secondary point P2, where the Convent) resulted from the Medina del Campo dated 1565. elements from the right side of the deliberate intention to give this Here we are dealing with the view meet, is located over the building a prominent place in the reasons behind Wyngaerde’s perpendicular of the north façade. View. That this decision was decision and we find two. The first This perpendicular is drawn intentional, is evidenced by the is linked with the nature of human through the centre of the northeast distance between the point P1 and vision which is limited to (provided cloister, at a distance from said the center of the cloister which is there are no notable distortions) a point of approx. 62 meters (75 approx. of 500 varas castellanas cone of revolution having a solid varas castellanas) from P2. (approx. 418 meters). angle of 60 degrees and whose

Fig. 4: Representation, over a historical plan of Zamora, of the used perspectives and the monuments represented by Wyngaerde. Source: Cermeño , J. M. 1766. Proyecto de fortificación de Zamora. Cartoteca Histórica del S º Geográfico del Ej ército, Sección de Documentación, nº 339.

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WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA axis coincides with the line of almost completely (Fig. 5). If we probably taken once the general vision. On the horizontal plane, this look at other Wyngaerde’s views sketch was at an advanced stage. limitation results in 30 degrees on from other cities containing a bridge This would explain the many each side of the axis. In Medina del (, Alba de ambiguities found where both views Campo, given the total area of the Tormes, Salamanca, Córdoba, meet. Everything we have stated city and the distance between the , Cuenca, , etc.) thus far refers to the ground plan in city ad the viewpoints, three points we find that in all of them the view terms of locating the two view were necessary in order to of the bridge is always inclined from points; in order to establish the third completely cover it (15). one of the sides. In the case of the coordinate it is necessary to analize view of Valencia (16), where four the 3D space. In the case of Zamora, if the vertex bridges are depicted, the view has of a 60 degree angle is placed over been carefully chosen so that all of ZAMORA FROM THE AIR the primary point P1, the result is them show an inclined perspective, that the sides of the angle never a projecting one. In our In order to obtain images of completely cover the walled opinion, this criterion of Zamora from the same points of enclosure with a slight amount of representation which was applied view established in the ground plan clearance. Why, then, do we find to the bridges is the result not only with the aim of comparing them two angles with different vertices of aesthetic criteria, but above all of with Wyngaerde’s view, two and orientations of approx. 30 the importance granted to bridges procedural options were degrees in each? We are sure that in the depiction of cities in terms of considered: aerial photography and the reason, rather than based on their strategic and communicational a virtual model. the physiology of the human eye, is capacities. based on graphic or visual grounds. Of the two methods, the most Fig. 4 shows that one of the visual Once the need for a new viewpoint attainable – aerial photography – lines crosses the two towers of the is understood, it is clear that was carried out on the 19th July bridge simultaneously; it follows Wyngaerde chose the point P2 2013 by the company MRW, who that, in the conic perspective because of its close proximity to the placed a hot-air balloon equipped obtained from P1, the axis of the north gallery of the Convent, a with a remote controlled bridge shall be a projecting axis vantage point from where from photographic camera at previously and, in consequence, the two nature he drew the sketches which fixed viewpoints and at a height towers will overlap and the first were later on fitted into the equal to the height of the tower will hide the bridge deck panoramic view. The decision was

A La Catedral O Santa Lucia 5 San Gil (Sanº giel) B Palacio del Obispo (la Casa de Lobispo) P Sant André 6 San Salvador C El Castillo Q Las Dueñas (Las Duennias mozes) 7 San Isidoro (Sanº desydero) D Santa Marta R Convento de Belén (Bellem beatas) 8 Santa Susana (Sanº Sofande ¿?) E San Idefonso (Sant elyfonzo) S San Leonardo (San Linardo) 9 Santo Domingo F La Magdelena T Nuestra Señora de la Horta (Los hortos) 10 San Marcos G San Cipriano (San Cibriaen) V San Miguel (San michyel) 11 Palacio de Doña Urraca (p de donya oraça) H San Vicente X San Pablo 12 Puerta de Santa Ana (p de Santanna) I Casa de los Condes de Alba (del Conde dalva) Y Santo Tomé 13 La Casa Santa (La Caza Sancta) K San Francisco (Stº francº) Z San Benito 14 San Bartolomé L San Simón (San Symon) 2 San Antolín 15 El mercado y Puerta del Tajamar M Santa Clara 3 Santa María la Nueva (Sta maria nove) N San Claudio (San glaudyo) 4 San Bernabé (San bernardo, por error)

16 San Juan de Puerta Nueva (falta en leyenda) 19 San Lázaro (falta en leyenda) 22 Puerta de San Torcuato (de San Torcaz) 17 Santiago el Burgo (falta en leyenda) 20 San Jerónimo (falta en leyenda) 23 Puerta de Santa Clara (de Santyago) 18 San Esteban (falta en leyenda) 21 Torreón de Santa Marta (falta en leyenda) 24 Puerta de San Pablo

Table 1: Legend elaborated from the one included in the View of Zamora. The names are the current ones (in bracket we include the names used by Wyngaerde when there is a great difference). From number 16 the buildings were not included in the original legend.

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coronation of the Cathedral’s tower. P1 and P2. Here a problem that The decision of placing the horizon has no easy solution arises. This line at this height was estimated by problem was solved in a rather observing Wyngaerde’s original sloppy way by Anton van den View. Although the chances of this Wyngaerde: the monuments visible procedure being a success were behind the north tower of the bridge slim, it was necessary to attempt it (Churches of San Cipriano and of nevertheless. The results, however, Santa María la Nueva and the were inconclusive, the new Palaces of los Condes de Alba and buildings and the dense vegetation of Doña Urraca) are seen from P1, preventing a detailed enough view. while the bridge itself is seen from Fig. 6: View of the south-east corner of the third walled enclosure, as it would be seen P2 (Fig. 5). from P1. Source: Copyright of the author. Once the aerial photography procedure was over, we devoted Another anomaly – very interesting The three churches visible at the ourselves to generating a virtual because of the information view’s background (nº 8, 9 and 10, model of the city of Zamora in the obtained through it – is the way in Fig. 8) have been moved to the left 16th century. With the help of which the Flemish artist depicted simply because the church of Santo software called Sketchup, we first the south-east corner of the third Domingo, the one located in the proceeded to re-create the walled enclosure: instead of centre, was covered by the church topography of the city, its walled depicting it as it would be seen of Santo Domingo (letter E, Fig. 7); enclosures, a modern equivalent of from P2, he drew this corner from this, in turn, caused the church of the bridge and the monuments P1 (Figs. 6, 10 and 11). San Isidoro to be moved (nº 7, which were standing in the 16th Figs. 8 and 9) until it reached a century, both the ones included by point located between the dome Wyngaerde in the legend and some and the tower of the Cathedral. others he had omitted (Table 1). Similarly, the church located at the Secondly, the two perspectives south corner of the ruined bridge, were placed on the ground plan San Lazaro (nº 19, Figs. 8 and 9), and the images obtained using has been moved to the right in different observation heights were order to allow the inclined sight of captured. The height resulting in a the still-standing watermills and city view that was similar to piers. Wyngaerde’s was 45 meters over the coronation of the Cathedral’s tower, i.e., 89 metres above P1 or

730 metres above sea level. Fig. 5: Bridge view, as it would be seen from P1. Source: Copyright of the author.

ABSENCES AND ANOMALIES In our opinion this is proof that the decision of changing the When comparing the virtual views perspective was taken once the (Figs. 9 and 11) to Wyngaerde’s right terminal of the wall was View (Fig. 8 and 10) a series of already drawn and that this was not anomalies between them – which corrected after the change. The were not entirely due to a lack of anomalous position of the doors in geometric rigour – become evident. the eastern canvas of the second The most noteworthy of these can enclosure (some of them appear Fig. 7: View of the environment of San Ildefonso, as it would be seen from P1. be found in the joining area duplicated) is explained in the Source: Copyright of the author. between the two halves of the view, same manner. obtained from the so-called points

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WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA Finally, two emblematic churches, omission, but in the second case it Santiago el Burgo and San Juan de is possible that at that time the la Puerta Nueva (nº16 and nº 17) tower had already disappeared due do not appear in the sketch of the to a collapse (17). Flemish cartographer. In the first case, this is probably due to an

Fig. 8: View of Zamora, by Anton Van den Wyngaerde. Detail of the left half of the view. Source: Kagan, R. L., op. cit., p. 370-371. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Zamora_%28van_den_Wyngaerde%29.jpg

Fig. 9: View of the virtual model of Zamora from P1. P1 Height: 45 meters over the coronation of the Cathedral’s tower(730 m). Source: Copyright of the author.

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CONCLUSIONS

However, when this principle came In the case of Zamora, the most Wyngaerde’s initial intention when into conflict with the clear notorious was the duplication of the tackling the View of Zamora (and, representation of all the elements, perspectives for the reasons given by extension, all other views) was, the Flemish cartographer did not above. This decision led him to without question, to be rigourously hesitate in taking all kinds of draw the right half of the panoramic faithful to what he was seeing with liberties. view from a perspective different his eyes. from the main one.

Fig. 10: View of Zamora, by Anton Van den Wyngaerde. Detail or the right half of the view. Source: Kagan, R. L., op. cit., p. 371-372.

Fig. 11: View of the virtual model of Zamora from P2. P1 Height: 45 meters over the coronation of the Cathedral’s tower(730 m). Source: Copyright of the author.

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WYNGAERDE IN ZAMORA BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTES

1. Kagan, Richard L. (dir.). 1986. Ciudades del siglo de Oro. Las vistas españolas de Anton Van den Wyngaerde . Madrid: El Viso. ISBN 84-86022-24-X

2. Sánchez del Barrio, Antonio . 1991. La estructura urbana de Medina del Campo . Valladolid: Junta de Castilla y León. P. 84 y ss. ISBN 84-7846-075-6

3. Rodríguez Méndez, Francisco Javier . 1998. “Localización de la puerta de Balborraz y otras aportaciones al conocimiento de las murallas de Zamora”. Anuario 1996 del Instituto de Estudios Zamoranos “Florián De Ocampo” . P. 349-387. ISSN 0213-82-12

4. Rodríguez Méndez, Francisco Javier . 2006. “Plan Director de las murallas de Zamora. Algunas aportaciones al conocimiento del Monumento”. En Actas del IV Congreso Internacional “Restaurar la Memoria” . Valladolid: Junta de Castilla y León. P. 557-570. ISBN 84-9718-360-6

5. Kagan, R. L ., op. cit., p. 10.

6. “Antonio de las Viñas nro pintor va por nra orden y mandado a pintar la descripción de algunos de essos pueblos principales... y hazer otras cossas de nro servicio tocantes al dho. Su officio queremos q en lo q por allá se le offreciere sea bien tratado... le dexeis y consintáis estar y residir libremente con sus criados y cabalgaduras y gente q le ha de ayudar". Taken from Haverkamp-Begemann, Egbert . 1991. “Las Vistas de España de Anton Van den Wyngaerde”. En Kagan, R. L., op. cit., p. 58.

7. Unfourtunately, the current whereabouts of the volume corresponding to 1570 from the minutes book of the City Council is unknown ( Pescador del Hoyo, Mª del Carmen . 1948. Documentos históricos. Archivo Municipal de Zamora. Zamora: Heraldo de Zamora. P. 174).

8. Arévalo, Federico . 2003. La representación de la ciudad en el Renacimiento . : Fundación Caja de Arquitectos. P. 127. ISBN 84-932542-6-6

9. Espejo, Cristóbal. 1908. “Modo de medir un término en tiempos de Felipe II”. Boletín de la Sociedad Castellana de Excursiones . Año VI, no. 61. P. 314-316. Taken from: Sánchez del Barrio, A, op. cit., p. 89, nota 137.

10. Arévalo, F. , op. cit., p. 199 y p. 203.

11. Sánchez del Barrio, A ., op. cit., p. 100.

12. Cuesta Aguilar, María José y Moya García, Egidio . 2011. “Una mirada a la imagen urbana de Jaén en el siglo XVI”. Exedra . Nº 5. P. 103-116.

13. Haverkamp-Begemann, E. , op. cit., p. 61.

14. Cermeño, J. M. 1766. Proyecto de fortificación de Zamora . Cartoteca Histórica del Servicio Geográfico del Ejército, Sección de Documentación, nº 339.

15. Sánchez del Barrio, A ., op. cit., p. 96.

16. Kagan, R. L ., op. cit., p. 205-207.

17. Ramos de Castro, Guadalupe . 1977. El Arte Románico en la provincia de Zamora . Zamora: Diputación Provincial. P. 177.

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