Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)
Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War
Siege of Antwerp, 1584-5
IL VERO DISEGNO DEL MIRABILE ASSEDIO DELLA FORTISSIMA CITA DE ANVERSA FATTO DAL SERENISSIMO ALEXANDRO FARNESE / PRINCIPE DE PARMA GOVre LVOCO TENENTE ET CAPP. GENERALE DE S. MAESTA CATHOLICA NELLE...
1585Etching and engraving; printed on paper; the ink framing lines of Mount Type A are drawn directly onto the sheet; no gilt edges | 37.2 x 49.5 cm (image and platemark) | RCIN 721076
A middle/high oblique view of the country around Antwerp at the end of the siege, July 1584-17 August 1585, by the Spanish army, commanded by the Prince of Parma, Alessandro Farnese (27 August 1545-3 December 1592; Duke of Parma and Piacenza 1586-1592; Governor of the Spanish Netherlands 1578-1592), which resulted in the surrender of the city by the burgomaster, Philip of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde (1540-15 December 1598). Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648). Oriented with south-east to top.
According to the title, this view represents the state of the siege on 27 August 1585; this may be an Old Style date, giving the New Style date of 17 August when the siege is recorded as ending. The representation shows the extent of the flooding by the Dutch of the area surrounding Antwerp; the crowns of trees can be seen protruding above the water and ships sail where formerly fields were tilled. The barrage across the Scheldt, made of boats fastened together is portrayed in detail as well as the new fortifications to each side of the river.
The initials ‘G.R.’ with the word ‘formis’ are identified by Nägler (vol.III, no.313, p.93) as belonging to Giovanni Battista Rossi (de Rubeis), an engraver and dealer who flourished, he states, at the end of the sixteenth century on the Piazza Navona [in Rome]. It is probable that Nägler has confused Giovanni Battista (1601-1678) with his uncle, Giuseppe the Elder (1560-1639). If the initials do refer to Giovanni Battista, then the date of execution is likely to have been after 1617 in which year he entered an apprenticeship with his uncle, Giuseppe the Elder.
Traces of earlier lettering, now erased from the copperplate, can be seen beneath the text of the key and dedication. An example of this map, together with the traces of erasures, is recorded by Ganado on page 125 of volume II of a Lafreri-type atlas preserved in the National Library of Malta, Valletta, entitled in MS ‘Piante, et / Alzate di Città, / et Fortezze / Raccolie in / Roma / Tom. II.’
? Giuseppe de' Rossi (1560-1639) (printer) [bottom right, below arms of Alexander Farnese:] G∙R∙ form.
Watermark: Anchor in circle, a six-pointed star above
Condition: no fold lines; a few brown spots; surface dirt, no impressions
31.5 x 49.2 cm (neatline)
37.2 x 49.5 cm (image and platemark)
38.4 x 50.7 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
IL VERO DISEGNO DEL MIRABILE ASSEDIO DELLA FORTISSIMA CITA DE ANVERSA FATTO DAL SERENISSIMO ALEXANDRO FARNESE / PRINCIPE DE PARMA GOVre LVOCO TENENTE ET CAPP. GENERALE DE S. MAESTA CATHOLICA NELLE PARTI DELLA FIANDRA DEL 27 agosto 1585. [across top of map]
Additional text:
[below map, a numerical key, 1-76.]
Dedication:
[bottom right, below the arms of Alessandro Farnese:] Ill∙MO ET R∙∙MO D∙D∙ ALEXAN∙O / FARNESIO∙ Cardinali Ampliss∙∙mo / D∙D∙
Annotations:
George III heading: Antwerp 27 Augt. 1585.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, black pencil erased and illegible]; [top left, red pencil:] 1/69; [top left, black pencil, erased:] I/75.
George III catalogue entry:
Antwerp Disegno del assedio della Citta di Anversa, fatto dal Serenissimo Alexandro Farnese Principe de Parma, del 27 Agosto 1585. G.R. formis [sic].
Subject(s)
Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium (51°13'11"N 04°25'12"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2723
A. Terry-Fritsch, E. F. Labbie (eds), Beholding violence in Medieval and Early Modern Europe, Farnham 2012, p. 153
M. Pollack, Cities at war in early modern Europe, Cambridge 2010, pp. 19-23
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
