Plattegrond van Lissabon 1726 - 1750

This anonymous print offers a bird's-eye view of Lisbon, a metropolis rendered with symbolic precision. Look at the ships dotting the Tagus River, each a vessel carrying more than just cargo; they embody Portugal’s Age of Discovery, a period of expansion that reshaped the world. In ancient times, ships carried souls across the River Styx, a motif that evolved into symbols of trade, exploration, and, conquest. Consider the city's coat of arms, featuring a ship itself, mirroring the maritime power so central to Lisbon’s identity, but also reminiscent of the ‘navis ecclesiae’, the ship of the church, navigating the perilous seas of earthly existence. The cityscape sprawls, yet the careful rendering speaks to a collective desire to capture, control, and remember. This map is not just a geographical document; it is a testament to human ambition, a psychological projection of power and permanence, echoed through centuries of art. As such, it is part of a larger, evolving narrative, forever sailing across the tides of time.