A superb birds-eye view of the city of Blois as viewed from the southeast across the River Loire. The bridge across the river then known as the Saint-Louis Bridge collapsed overnight on 6-7 February 1716 following a severe build-up of ice on the river. It had stood for six hundred years. This view was published in the second volume of the ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’, here with Latin text first issued in 1575. The work was compiled by George Braun (1541-1622) the Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun produced a total of over 500 city views and maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617. Most of the engraving was the work of Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590), many after drawings by George Hoefnagel. Koeman (1967-70) II B & H 2 no. 14; Van der Krogt (1997-2010) 4, 513.