Franco-Spanish War (1635-59)
Contemporary maps and prints of the major battles and sieges from 1635 to 1658
La Bassée, 1642
PLANTA DE LA BASSEA / SITIADA EN XX. DE AVRIL / POR SV EXCELENCIA / D. FRANCISCO DE MELLO / GOVERNADOR D’ESTOS ESTADOS, / Y RENDIDA EN XIII. DE MAYO DE / M.DC. XLII
1642 or laterEtching and engraving; laid down on paper then mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges, right and bottom | Scale: 1:13,000 approx. | RCIN 723014
A combination high oblique view/map of La Bassée, besieged on 20 April 1642 by the Spanish army commanded by Francisco de Melo de Portugal y Castro, Marquis de Tor de Laguna, Comte d'Assumar (1597-18 December 1651), Governor of the Spanish Netherlands 1641-1644, resulting in the capitulation of the town on 13 May 1642. Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659). Oriented with south-east to top (cardinal points).
The Imperial arms of Philip IV of Spain (reigned 1621-1665) are top left, and those of Francisco de Melo are top right.
An earlier state of this print is bound in at ff.173-174 of a manuscript account entitled 'Relación de la campaña de Flandes en 1642' by Juan Antonio Vincart, Secretary to the Governors of the Spanish Netherlands between 1633 and 1650 (IIR F 489; Vojenský historický ústav Praha; Praha; Česko). The earlier state, which is otherwise identical, is identified by an earlier date 'en 26. d Abril' which occurs in the note (top, left of centre of RCIN 723014) 'Cerca deste lugar … en 3. de Mayo …' and by the presence of Roman numerals from I to XV which are placed against some features on the print.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Map: a ‘4’ suspending the letters WR. Backing paper: indistinct, cross in tear drop. Mount: none.
Condition: five fold lines; small hole, centre; brown discolouration from paste used to attach backing paper; pressure marks
Scale: 1:13,000 approx. Scale bar: Escala de mil passos ordinarios [61 mm =] 1000.
29.3 x 40.6 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
40.2 x 50.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
PLANTA DE LA BASSEA / SITIADA EN XX. DE AVRIL / POR SV EXCELENCIA / D. FRANCISCO DE MELLO / GOVERNADOR D’ESTOS ESTADOS, / Y RENDIDA EN XIII. DE MAYO DE / M.DC. XLII. [bottom left, in oval decorative cartouche]
Additional text:
EXPLICACION DE LAS FORTIFICACIONES / DE LA BASSEA [right, in ornate cartouche, a key, A-I, K-N]
Inset:
Parte de la muralla por donde se rindiò la villa [bottom right, in rectangular panel with a key, 1-10 below] Scale: No scale stated. Size: 7.7 x 16.9 cm (neatline).
Annotations:
George III heading: La Bassée 20 April – 13 May 1642.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, black pencil:] 1642. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Bassée, La Pianta de la Bassea sitiada en 20 de Avril, por D. Francisco de Mello, y rendida en 13 de Mayo de 1642.
Subject(s)
La Bassée (Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°32ʹ03ʺN 02°48ʹ22ʺE
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. 3101
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
