Franco-Spanish War (1635-59)
Contemporary maps and prints of the major battles and sieges from 1635 to 1658
Map of the siege of Vercelli, 1638 (Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy) 45°19ʹ17ʺN 08°25ʹ11ʺE
1638 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper, cropped (Mount Type A) | Scale: 1:11,000 approx. | RCIN 722129.a
A high oblique view/map of Vercelli, besieged from 26/7 May to 6 July 1638 by by Diego Felipez de Guzmán, 1st Marquis of Leganés (1580-1655), Governor of Milan and showing the state of the siege between 26 May and 23 June 1638. Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659). Oriented with east-north-east to top (cardinal points).
The print is dedicated to Gazpar de Guzmán y Pimental Ribera y Velasco de Tovar, Count of Olivares and Duke of San Lúcar la Mayor (6 January 1587-22 July 1645), Prime Minister of Spain.
The figure on horseback, bottom left, is Diego Felipez de Guzmán, 1st Marquis of Leganés and another portrait, also on horseback, bottom right, depicts Don Martino d'Aragon, the artillery general who played a significant part in the success of the siege (see RCIN 722128).
The accompanying letterpress text which gives a key to the letters engraved on the print, is at RCIN 722129.b. Giving an account of the siege it names the commanding officers whose camps are shown on the print.
Cesare Bassano (1583-1648) (printmaker) [bottom right:] Cesare Bassani F.
Gaspar de Guzman, conde-duque de Olivares (1587-1645) (dedicatee)
Subject(s)
Army-SpainMartin of Aragon (active 1638)Gaspar de Guzman, conde-duque de Olivares (1587-1645)Watermark: None visible
Condition: four fold lines. Verso: surface dirt along outer folded panels. Remains of Mount Type A along left, top and bottom edges
Scale: 1:11,000 approx. Scale bar: Escala de Mil passos andantos [69 mm =] 1000.
44.7 x 60.8 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
45.8 x 35.0 cm (mount)
Printed title:
None
Dedication:
[top centre, in ornamental cartouche:] Al Ex.mo S.r Conde de Oliuares Duque / de San Lucar consagra esta Victoria / un Criado suyo, que se hallò en ella.
Annotations:
George III heading: Vercelli 27 May – 6 July 1638.
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Vercelli A Plan of Vercelli besieged by the Spaniards under the command of the Marquis de Leganes on the 27.th of May and taken on the 6.th of July 1638: by Cesare Bassani.
Subject(s)
Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy (45°19ʹ17ʺN 08°25ʹ11ʺE)
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. 3032
Page revisions
25 May 2024
Current version
