Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
Smolensk, 1633
EXPVGNATIO / EXERCITVS MOSCOVITICI / OBSIDIONE PREMENTIS VRBEM / SMOLENSKVM / DVCTV / VLADISLAI IV / POLONIÆ ET SVECIÆ REGIS etc
published 1635Etching and engraving; printed from four copperplates on four sheets of paper; mounted on paper (Remains of type A mount) | 83.9 x 109.3 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 722074.a
A view of Polish-Lithuanian Smolensk, unsuccessfully besieged by the Muscovite army, commanded by Mikhail Shein (?-1634) from 28 October 1632 to 4 October 1633. Smolensk War (1632-4). Oriented with south-south-east to top.
This view, taken after the siege was broken by the Polish army in October 1633, shows the fieldworks and fortifications of both the Muscovites and the defending Polish forces. In the left foreground on horseback, the Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Władysław IV (9 June 1595-20 May 1648) points his baton towards three commanders of troops of different nationalities who are presenting themselves and asking for pardon while, below them, Muscovite dukes bend the knee in acknowledgement of their defeat. Bottom right is the Polish victory trophy, towering over prisoners of war.
Top centre, an eagle, symbol of Polish power, flashes a thunderbolt which strikes an allegorical winged figure, top left, representing brute force bereft of wisdom falling to ruin under its own weight or, in this case, the destroyed reputation of the Russians while, top right, a winged victory, representing the triumphant reputation of Poland gestures to a deed well done. Lettering reads: VIS CONSILII EXPERS RES BENE GESTA.
The letters and numbers which appear on the view are explained in the accompanying letterpress text at RCINs 722074.b, c and d.
Salomon Savery (1594-1678) (engraver)
Adolf Boy (1612-after 1680) (artist)
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) (publisher)
Andreas Hünefeldt (1581-1666) (print seller) [bottom, right of centre:] Adolphus Boy Dantiscanus delineavit, / Salomon Saverij æri incidit, / Guiljelmus Blaeu excudit Amsterdami / Dantisci veneunt / Apud Andream Hunefeldt.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: eleven fold lines; before being pasted to the bottom two sheets, the top two sheets were joined and folded several times; 4.0 cm tear to left edge; 42.0 cm tear along a fold line; ragged 13.0 cm tear to right edge
83.9 x 109.3 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
Printed title:
EXPVGNATIO / EXERCITVS MOSCOVITICI / OBSIDIONE PREMENTIS VRBEM / SMOLENSKVM / DVCTV / VLADISLAI IV / POLONIÆ ET SVECIÆ REGIS etc. [bottom centre, in cartouche embellished with the artefacts of war]
Annotations:
George III heading: Smolensk 1633
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Smolensk Expugnatio Exercitus Muscovitici Obsidione prementis Urbem Smolenskum ductu Vladislai IV Poloniæ et Sueciæ Regis A.o 1633: per Adolphum Boy, incisa a Salomon Savery, apud G. Blaeu et A. Hunefeldt. 4 tab. cum Descriptione, 1635.
Subject(s)
Smolensk, Russia (54°46ʹ54ʺN 32°02ʹ24ʺE)
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 2947
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
Adding image
