Wenceslao Godreccio [Waclaw Grodecki];Ortelius

Poloniae finitimarumquc locorum descriptio.

      Ortelius M6759, Amsterdam - "Waclaw Grodecki, his true name was Grodziecki, which was latinized as Grodecius (corrupt Godreccius), was born about 1535. He was the son of a Silesian gentleman to whom belonged the village Grodziec in Cieszyn Silesia, hence the family name. He entered Cracow University in 1550 and in 1555 was still there studying mathematics and philosophy. In 1556 he left for Leipzig as tutor to the son of a great noble and there too he entered the university. In 1557 he drew his well-known map of Poland. He travelled to Italy and after his return in 1561 took orders. In 1564 he received the degree of Master of Arts at the Cracow University. He later became canon of the chapter in Wroclaw, this post having been ceded on his behalf by his elder brother Jan when he became bishop of Olomouc in 1572. Waclaw Grodecki followed his brother to Moravia in 1566 and settled for good in Brno where later he became dean of the collegiate chapter. Being to the end of his life a devoted Catholic and a protector of the Jesuits, he was a major figure of the counter-reformation movement in Moravia. He was a man of humble character and good-natured. He died in Brno in 1591." (Buczek) , Size : 372x493 (mm), 14.65x19.41 (Inches), Hand Colored, 0