Search "" as a keyword...
Filter suggestionsContinue typing to see suggestions...
Franco-Spanish War (1635-59)

Contemporary maps and prints of the major battles and sieges from 1635 to 1658

GIOVANNI PAOLO BIANCHI (FL. 1617-54)

View of Breme, 1638 (Breme, Lombardy, Italy) 45°07ʹ39ʺN 08°37ʹ32ʺE

1638 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A) | 42.5 x 60.4 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 722126

A high oblique view/map of Breme, besieged by the Spanish, commanded by Diego Felipez de Guzmán, 1st Marquis of Leganés (1580-1655), Governor of Milan and taken on 26 March 1636. Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659). Oriented with north to top.

The fortress of Breme covered Cazal and Vercelle and also defended both Monferrat and Piedmont. The French sent Charles II de Créquy (1575-17 March 1638) Duke of Lesdiguieres to the aid of the fortress but, while he was reconnoitring the lie of the land with his telescope, he was noticed by a Spanish artillery man who, from the position marked with a Q, aimed his cannon in the Marshal's direction and scored a direct hit, killing him instantly at the spot shown on this print by the letter P.

  • Giovanni Paolo Bianchi (fl. 1617-54) (engraver) [bottom right:] I.P. Blanchus scap. Mediolani

    Subject(s)

    Army-Spain
  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: six fold lines. Verso: surface dirt along outer fold lines. Remains of Mount Type A along left, top and bottom edges

  • 42.5 x 60.4 cm (image and sheet)

    cropped (platemark)

    43.3 x 33.8 cm (mount)

  • Printed title:

    None

    Additional text:

    [right, in Spanish, in a cartouche representing a scroll, a key, A-I, K-Q, describing the siege and explaining the features on the print.]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Brema 12-26 March 1638.

    Other annotations: none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Brema A Plan of the Siege of Brema by the Marquis de Leganes in March 1638, by I.P. Blancus.

  • Subject(s)

    Breme, Lombardy, Italy (45°07ʹ39ʺN 08°37ʹ32ʺE)

  • 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. 3029

Page revisions

  • 25 May 2024