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
VERO ET NVOVO DISEGNO DELLA PIANTA DELLA CITA DI ANVERSA CON TVTTI GLI SVOI FORTI ASSEDIATA / AL PRESENTE DAL SERENIS.O SIG.R PRENCIPE DI PARMA ET ALLA GATA DAL FIVME SCHELDA NELLO STATO SI TROVAVA ‘IL DI / XV D
published 1585Etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand-coloured; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 24.3 x 34.2 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 721075
A high oblique view of the siege of Antwerp, 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), resulting 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.
This view represents the state of the siege on 15 December 1584. It does not show the later blockage of the Scheldt by the Spanish, nor the flooding of the surrounding land by the Dutch. The new forts which were built by both sides along the banks of the Scheldt are distinguished by the letters ‘F’ (Flemish) and ‘R’ – for the Spanish King.
Natale Bonifacio da Sebenico (1538-92) (publisher)
Donato Rasciotti (active 1580-1602) (publisher) [cropped and mostly illegible along bottom of map:] [Stampata in Bargo] di [Roma] per Donato Rascicotti Bresciano 1585.
Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma (1545-92) (dedicatee)
Watermark: Star above the letter M in a shield
Condition: no fold lines; mount slightly creased; a few brown spots; surface dirt; pressure marks from the mounts of items which were kept above and below this print in a different collection are present on the recto and verso
24.3 x 34.2 cm (image and sheet)
40.9 x 55.0 cm (mount)
Printed title:
VERO ET NVOVO DISEGNO DELLA PIANTA DELLA CITA DI ANVERSA CON TVTTI GLI SVOI FORTI ASSEDIATA / AL PRESENTE DAL SERENIS.O SIG.R PRENCIPE DI PARMA ET ALLA GATA DAL FIVME SCHELDA NELLO STATO SI TROVAVA ‘IL DI / XV DI DECEMBRE MDLXXXIIII Le Bandiere della Lettera R mostrano le Fortezze del Re, & Quelle dell’ F de Fiamenghi cioe d’Anversa. [in a banner, across top of map]
Additional text:
[bottom centre, in rectangular cartouche ornamented with strapwork, begins:] Quando S.A.za si risolse di arriuare colli suoi Nauilij nel fiume Schelda, …
Dedication:
[bottom centre, in cartouche above text panel; to either side of the Farnese coat of arms which is surmounted by a cardinal’s hat:] All’ Ill.mo & Reuer. S. Cardinale / ALESSANDRO FARNESE Ves= / couo d’Ostia, & Vicecancelliere di / ∙ S ∙ Chiesa. Natal BoniF
Annotations:
George III heading: Antwerp 15 Dec.r 1584.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, on mount, black pencil:] 1585; [left, on mount, black pencil: the old heading]. (Verso) [top left, on mount, black pencil:] 1/72; [top left, across mount and map; red pencil:] 1/68; [top left, on mount, black pencil, erased:] I/72; [top right, on mount, black pencil, erased:] Antwerp.
George III catalogue entry:
Antwerp Pianta della Citta di Anversa, con tutti gli suoi Fort, assediata al presente dal Principe di Parma, nello stato si trovava il di 15 di Decembre 1584. Natal Bonifacio fecit 1585.
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. 2720
L. Tedoldi, ‘Tra immigrazione e integrazione sociale. La cittadinanza ‘creata’ a Brescia in età Veneta’, Società e Storia 93, 2001, pp.24
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
