Georg Balthasar Probst. Strasburg. 1780

Georg Balthasar Probst (1673–1748)
Argentoratum, Strasburg
Augsburg: c. 1780
Engraving on two joined sheets
Sheet size: 17" x 43"

A dramatic and finely detailed panoramic view of Strasbourg, engraved by Georg Balthasar Probst and issued from Augsburg in the late 18th century. Seen from the west, the city stretches across the horizon, crowned by the soaring spire of the Strasbourg Cathedral—then the tallest building in the world. Probst’s work belongs to the tradition of vue d’optique city views, popular in the Enlightenment era, offering both aesthetic delight and educational value. These views were often displayed in optical viewers to enhance their depth, reflecting the fascination with perspective and global exploration. Strasbourg, as the capital of Alsace and a key cultural crossroads between France and the Holy Roman Empire, is here captured at a moment of architectural grandeur and political complexity.