About this sheet
Antique lithograph view of Arequipa from the Tower of Santo Domingo – 1865
This lithograph, titled Vista de Arequipa tomada de la Torre de Santo Domingo, presents a panoramic view of the city of Arequipa as seen from the tower of the Santo Domingo church. Published in Paris in 1865 as part of Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán’s monumental Atlas Geográfico de la República del Perú, the image was drawn by F. Delamare and lithographed by H. Jacomme.
The perspective emphasizes the rooftops and streets of Arequipa’s colonial core, rendered in careful architectural detail. At the center of the distance rises the Cathedral of Arequipa with its twin towers and monumental neoclassical façade, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The lithograph situates the cathedral within the broader urban fabric, surrounded by domestic dwellings, churches, and plazas, while the volcanic mountains of southern Peru frame the horizon.
This image is significant because it records Arequipa’s appearance in the mid-19th century, before later earthquakes and reconstructions altered aspects of the city’s architecture. Known as the “White City” for its sillar (volcanic stone) construction, Arequipa was a major cultural and economic center in Peru, and Paz Soldán’s decision to include multiple views of it in his atlas underscores its importance.
Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán (1821–1886), Peru’s foremost geographer and statesman, produced the *Atlas Geográfico* as the first comprehensive national atlas. It included 49 maps and 29 views, illustrating Peru’s cities, monuments, landscapes, and industries. The present view of Arequipa, seen from Santo Domingo, complements the plate of the Cathedral of Arequipa, together offering one of the most detailed 19th-century graphic records of the city.
Condition report: Very good condition with strong tonal contrasts. Minor foxing in the margins and a faint crease at the edge, not affecting the printed image. Wide margins preserved. Plate mark visible. Blank verso.
Framing tips: A dark wooden or black frame with a cream or light beige mat will complement the tonal subtleties of the lithograph. To emphasize the urban textures, consider a double mat with a thin grey inner border echoing the volcanic stone of Arequipa’s architecture.
Technique: Lithograph
Maker: F. Delamare (artist), printed by H. Jacomme, Paris, 1863, for Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán’s *Atlas Geográfico de la República del Perú* (Paris, 1865)
