First issued in Amsterdam in 1616, Claes Visscher’s panorama looks across the Thames towards the long skyline of old London. Follow the river past London Bridge and the Tower, then pick out Old St Paul’s rising above the closely packed City. Somerset House and York House stand along the waterfront, while boats and riverside buildings give the scene its sense of a working capital.
The view is especially rewarding on the Southwark side. The Globe Theatre appears among the buildings and places of entertainment associated with Shakespeare’s London. Visscher drew it as an octagonal structure, although later evidence suggests the theatre had many more sides. That small discrepancy is a reminder that this is an engraved interpretation of London, probably made from earlier views, rather than a survey drawn directly from its streets.
Look across the panorama again and the city begins to separate into distinct parts: the busy Thames, the buildings on its banks, the crowded streets beyond and the landmarks that still help us find our bearings. It captures London before the Great Fire changed so much of the City’s skyline. Reproduced as a fine art print, the map offers both a striking long view and details to return to over time.
