[Albacete] Eastern view of the city of Chinchilla

This original antique view of the city of Chinchilla de Montearagón (Albacete), titled “Vista oriental de la ciudad de Chinchilla”, was designed and published by the geographer Bernardo Espinalt y García in Madrid in 1783. The print forms part of his notable work Atlante Español, a pioneering project in the visual and geographical documentation of Enlightenment Spain. This original copperplate engraving captures in detail the situation of the city, built upon a strategic hill, and constitutes an interesting historical document for the study of Castilian-Manchegan urbanism of the 18th century.
The composition offers a perspective from the east that emphasises the defensive character of the city. A detailed numbered key (from 1 to 16) makes it possible to identify the most significant elements of its heritage: at the summit, the Castle (and singular stone Moat), followed by the Parish Church (Santa María del Salvador) and the Plaza Mayor. The engraving details the various gates of the wall, such as the City Gate, the Castile Gate and the Tiradores Gate, as well as important civil and religious buildings, among them the Convent of Santo Domingo and the Militia Barracks. The presence of the city’s coat of arms at the base and the depiction of the hermitages scattered across the surrounding landscape endow this antique view with informative and aesthetic richness, suitable for collectors of historical iconography of Castile-La Mancha.
Minor defects, which do not affect the print, in the upper margin of the view.