New Panorama of the Rhine from Mentz to Cologn by Frederick William Delkeskamp

A visually gripping cruise down the Rhine in the mid-19th century.

This incredible steel-engraved view replicates a popular element of the Grand Tour of Europe – a cruise down the Rhine River. Starting in Cologne (at the top) and traveling south towards Mainz, the souvenir panorama captures the course of the river and both banks in exacting, if somewhat stylized, detail. Though it was the height of the Age of Steam, chugging paddle boats and billowing factories are largely omitted in favor of a cleaner, romanticized landscape. Fortified cities, cultivated fields, dense forests, isolated estates, and rugged hillscapes are shown, as well as iconic landmarks (at an exaggerated size). Dozens of vignettes present further attractions – churches, monuments, castles, ruins, and more. Of notable interest are the under-construction Cologne Cathedral (with a massive crane on the South Tower), the castle crag atop Drachenfels, and Schloss Stolzenfels (the summer residence of Prussian King Frederick William IV).

The strip-map view was created by Frederick William Delkeskamp and published in Frankfurt am Main in 1850. Delkeskamp first issued his panorama in 1825, and it was quickly reissued (and counterfeited) in several editions. The inclusion of French, German, and English text (cover only) indicates its broad popularity and intended audience.