Accuracy analysis of the chorography of A. Wyngaerde’s view of Zaragoza, 1563

Abstract. There are very few examples of old graphic documentation about cities. However, their usefulness for the study of urban evolution and for the creation of historical cartography stimulates their study. One of these cases is the panoramic view of Zaragoza made by Anton van den Wyngaerde in 1563. A detailed analysis of this graphic document is conducted by this research as a primary source for a comparative study of the urban structure of the 16th-century Renaissance city with present-day Zaragoza. The results obtained highlight the transformation of the city's urban form. To evaluate the fidelity of the drawing, the technique used by the author has also been analyzed, together with the quantification of the distortions and deformations applied as an artistic practice in this drawing. As a result, a measure of the accuracy of the drawing is obtained, allowing for reliable conclusions about the validity of the information provided by this old panoramic view for the study of the city at that time.