Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
Map of Brussels, 1697 (Brussels, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium) 50°51'01"N 04°20'55"E
1697 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: 1:30,500 approx. | RCIN 724089
The map shows in detail the terrain of the country around Brussels, together with the fortified lines of the Allies and their encampment on the west side of Brussels. The Allied army, apprised of Villeroi's plan to bombard Brussels by their intelligence services, had marched overnight on 22/23 June for 30 km (18.6 miles) through the forests of Soignies in order to pre-empt the French arrival. The French arrived hours later but were beaten back by an Allied offensive.
The British Library example of this map is in C. Beudeker, Germania Inferior … Kaert-Boeck van de XXVII Nederlandtsche Provincien, Bd.1, No.13 [1600-1750] BL Maps C.9.d.1. Another copy is at BL Maps 31840.(34.)
Two examples of this map are recorded in the lists of the Archives de la Ville de Bruxelles: Collection des plans et cartes de Bruxelles et de la région bruxelloise (2006), p.6; one of these is printed on toile (H.O.33; L.O.435).
Dedication: [bottom right, in cartouche representing a carved stone tablet, with, to the left, two putti holding a surveying instrument (alidade) and scale and dividers, all surmounted by the coat of arms of Charles Henri de Lorraine, Prince de Vaudemont (1649-1723) flanked by the supporters: eagles with wings displayed, bearing a chain with the cross of Lorraine:] Au Trés-Illustre & Trés-Vaillant Seigneur / Son Altesse / LE PRINCE DE VAUDEMONT, / Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Toison d’Or, Gentil-homme de la Chambre / du Roi, de son Conseil-Suprème de Guerre, Gouverneur General des Ar- / mées de Sa Majesté au Païs-Bas, & Commandant en Chef és dits Païs les Ar- / mées de sa Majesté Britannique, &c, &c. … / Dedié et consacré à l'Immortalité des Siecles, par son trés-humble trés-affectionné / et trés-fidele Serviteur George de Backer.
For further reading, see:
Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Le peintre et l'arpenteur Images de Bruxelles et de l'ancien duché de Brabant, Brussels, 2000, p.159.
J. Childs, The Nine Years’ War and the British army, 1688-1697: the operations in the Low Countries, Manchester, 1991; reprint 2013, pp.337-8.
Condition: one fold line; crease to paper which occurred during printing; heavy brown discolouration. Verso: brown discolouration; heavily waterstained from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
Jacques Harrewyn (1660-1727) (engraver) [bottom right, to the left of the coat of arms:] I. Harrewyn fecit.
George de Backer (active 1692-1712) (publisher)
Charles Henri, Count of Vaudemont, Prince of Commercy (1642-1723) (dedicatee)
Subject(s)
Army-Allied army (War of the Grand Alliance, 1688-97)Watermark: None visible
Condition: one fold line; crease to paper which occurred during printing; heavy brown discolouration. Verso: brown discolouration; heavily waterstained from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label
Scale: 1:30,500 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 1500 Pas communs [40 mm =].
29.9 x 43.3 cm (neatline)
34.0 x 43.7 cm (image)
35.1 x 45.0 cm (platemark)
38.1 x 51.3 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PLAN DE LA VILLE DE BRUSSELLES ET SES ENVIRONS, / Avec les Campemens de l’Armée des Alliez, leurs Retranchemens & les Nouveaux Ouvrages qu’on ÿ a dressez par Ordre de / SA MAJESTÉ BRITTANNIQUE pour prévenir les Insultes des Ennemis, l’An 1697. [top, across top of map, in rectangular panel]
Dedication:
[bottom right, in cartouche representing a carved stone tablet, with, to the left, two putti holding a surveying instrument (alidade) and scale and dividers, all surmounted by the coat of arms of Charles Henri de Lorraine, Prince de Vaudemont (1649-1723) flanked by the supporters: eagles with wings displayed, bearing a chain with the cross of Lorraine:] Au Trés-Illustre & Trés-Vaillant Seigneur / Son Altesse / LE PRINCE DE VAUDEMONT, / Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Toison d’Or, Gentil-homme de la Chambre / du Roi, de son Conseil-Suprème de Guerre, Gouverneur General des Ar- / mées de Sa Majesté au Païs-Bas, & Commandant en Chef és dits Païs les Ar- / mées de sa Majesté Britannique, &c, &c. … / Dedié et consacré à l'Immortalité des Siecles, par son trés-humble trés-affectionné / et trés-fidele Serviteur George de Backer.
Annotations:
George III heading: Encampment near Brussels 1697.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, in Schultz's or Mason's hand?, black pencil:] 23. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 57; [top right, black pencil: 22]; [bottom, left of centre, black pencil:] 57; [right of centre, red pencil:] 60.
George III catalogue entry:
Encampment Plan de la Ville de Brusselles et ses Environs, avec les Campemens de l’Armée des Alliés, leurs Retranchemens et les nouveaux Ouvrages qu’on y a dressés par ordre de S.M.B. pour prevenir les insultes des Ennemis, l’an 1697: par George de Backer. [The same entry appears under the heading Brussels.]
Subject(s)
Brussels, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium (50°51'01"N 04°20'55"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J. Childs, The Nine Years’ War and the British army, 1688-1697: the operations in the Low Countries, Manchester 1991, reprint 2013, pp. 337-8
Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Le peintre et l'arpenteur Images de Bruxelles et de l'ancien duché de Brabant, Brussels 2000, p. 159
Page revisions
3 November 2024
Current version
