Franco-Spanish War (1635-59)
Contemporary maps and prints of the major battles and sieges from 1635 to 1658
Siege of Roses, 1645
PLAN DE LA VILLE DE ROSES / ASSIEGEE LE I. APVRIL PAR LES ARMES DE / SA M.TE TRES-CHRESTIENNE COMMANDEES / PAR LE M.AL DV PLESSIS PRASLAIN
1645 or laterEtching; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of paper, joined; mounted on paper (mount cropped) | 54.5 x 81.3 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 723053.a
A high oblique view and map of Roses, besieged between 1 April and 28 May 1645 by the French army commanded by César, duc de Choiseul, comte du Plessis-Praslin (1602-23 December 1675) resulting in the capitulation of the town. Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659). Oriented with south-east to top.
The dedicatee was Michel Le Tellier, marquis de Barbezieux, seigneur de Chaville (19 April 1603-30 October 1685) who was French Secretary of War and Chancellor of France.
The accompanying letterpress text, which gives a journal of the events of the siege, is at RCIN 723053.b. The text was originally printed in two groups, each comprising three adjacent columns around the left and bottom, and right and bottom edges of which was printed a decorative border. Each set of three columns was then pasted together and further pasted to the bottom of the two joined impressions which made up the view and map of Roses. An example of this format can be seen at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Tellier’s coat of arms is top right, above the dedication.
Alexandre Boudan (1600-71) (publisher and printer)
Watermark: Cardinal's hat, but with three tassels, therefore: a bishop's hat?
Condition: eight fold lines; worn along folds; tear to bottom of centre fold. Verso: small paper repairs; surface dirt along fold lines
54.5 x 81.3 cm (image and sheet)
54.6 x 34.7 cm (left sheet)
54.5 x 46.4 cm (right sheet)
cropped (platemark)
Printed title:
PLAN DE LA VILLE DE ROSES / ASSIEGEE LE I. APVRIL PAR LES ARMES DE / SA M.TE TRES-CHRESTIENNE COMMANDEES / PAR LE M.AL DV PLESSIS PRASLAIN. [top centre, in scroll]
Dedication:
[top right, surmounted by the Tellier coat of arms:] Illustrissimo Viro / MICHAELI LE TELLIER / Domino de Chauilli / Regi Christianissimo ab Intimis / arcanis et Consilijs &c. / EXPVGNATAM RHODOPOLIM / Illustre Gallicæ Fortitudinis Trophæii / Suj in eum grati animj / obsequijque perpetui monumentum / D.D. Seruus addictissimus / Alexander Boudan.
Inset:
[bottom right, in cartouche resembling draped, fringed material, a plan of the fort of Roses and the siegeworks:] Attaque de Roses Conduitte par le S.r / VALPERGVE et le Cheuallier AVICE Size: 17.6 x 18.3 cm (neatline).
Additional text:
[bottom right, below the inset, a key, A-I, L-T, V-Y and 1-28.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Roses 1 April - 28 May 1645
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Roses Plan de la Ville de Roses assiegée le 1 Avril par les Armes de Sa Majesté commandées par le M.al du Plessis Praslain, et rendue le 28 May 1645: par A. Boudan. 2 feuilles. avec une Description.
Subject(s)
Roses, Catalonia, Spain (42°15ʹ43ʺN 03°10ʹ37ʺE)
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. 3164
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
