Old Map of Madrid

Historical Background

This elaborate plan presents Madrid during the early eighteenth century, when the city was firmly established as the seat of the Spanish monarchy. The densely engraved street plan is surrounded by royal imagery and panoramic scenes that emphasise Madrid’s political importance as well as its physical appearance.

Attribution

• Original title: Madridum sive Mantua Carpetanorum celeberrima Castiliae Novae Civitas et Monarcharum Hispanicorum magnificentissima Regia sedes
• Cartographer and publisher: Matthäus Seutter
• Publication place: Augsburg
• Date: c.1730
• Printing method: Copper engraving
• Area shown: Madrid and its immediate surroundings

The Plan of Madrid

The tightly packed streets of central Madrid occupy the heart of the engraving. The River Manzanares runs along the western side of the city, while the extensive Buen Retiro palace and gardens appear to the east. Roads radiating from Madrid connect the capital with the surrounding countryside.

The map predates many of the major changes associated with Madrid’s later eighteenth-century development. It therefore records the city close to the end of the period in which the old Royal Alcázar remained the principal royal residence. The Alcázar was destroyed by fire in 1734 and was subsequently replaced by the present Royal Palace.

Madridum and Mantua Carpetanorum

The Latin title uses both Madridum and Mantua Carpetanorum. The latter was a learned historical name formerly associated with Madrid and the ancient Carpetani people. Its appearance reflects the antiquarian language favoured by European mapmakers rather than a modern identification of the city.

The Panoramic Prospect

Below the street plan is a broad prospect of Madrid, with prominent buildings identified across the skyline. The view gives the engraving a strong pictorial quality and helps distinguish it from a conventional town plan.

Additional scenes include a representation of the Plaza Mayor and an allegorical composition connected with the Spanish monarchy and its overseas dominions. These images were intended to express royal and imperial authority, placing the city within the wider political world of eighteenth-century Spain.

Matthäus Seutter

Matthäus Seutter was one of the leading German map publishers of the early eighteenth century. Working in Augsburg, he produced maps and city plans noted for their dense geographical content and elaborate decorative engraving. He received the title of Imperial Geographer in 1727, shortly before this view of Madrid was published.