Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Rhodes, 1522
DÉFENSE DE RHODES / PAR LE GRAND-MAITRE VILLIERS- DE L’ISLE-ADAM CONTRE SOLIMAN II
c.1778-1797Engraving with etching; laid down on paper, the paper brought round the edges of the recto | 45.5 x 58.1 cm (image) | RCIN 721004
An eighteenth-century view of the Ottoman attack on the city of Rhodes during the siege, led by Suleiman the Magnificent (6 November 1494-7 September 1566), between 25 June and 20 December 1522, resulting in capitulation by Philippe de Villiers de L’Isle-Adam (1464-1534) Grand Master of the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint-John of Jerusalem. Ottoman Wars in Europe: Suleiman’s early wars in the west (1521-44).
Rhodes had become the home of the Knights Hospitallers in 1309, following their expulsion by the Ottomans from Jerusalem. They became known as the Knights of Rhodes. This view shows the Turkish assault from the land, with Turkish troops being landed from the ships to the left of the view.
The title, which is divided into two parts by the coat of arms, embellished with flags, a double-headed eagle and an illuminated cross within a circle, is flanked by two oval portraits: [left:] FRERE PIERRE D'AUBUSSON, XXXIX GRAND MAITRE Anée 1476 CARDI.AL en 1488; [right:] FRERE PHILIPPE -VILLIERS DE L'ISLE-ADAM, XXXXIII GRND. MAITRE Ané 1521.
The suggested dates of production for the print are taken from the earliest date at which L’Epine could have been involved and the death in 1797 of the dedicatee.
After Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom (Haarlem 1566-Haarlem 1640) (artist)
Jean-Baptiste Hilair (1751-1828) (draughtsman) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Peint par H.ri Cornille Vroom, Dessiné par J.B. Hilair
Pierre E L'Epine (1754-1822) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Gravé à Paris par P.re E. E.ch L’Epine.
Mademoiselle Niquet, femme L'Epine (engraver) [bottom right, inside platemark:] E.F. Niquet f.me L’Epine scripsit.
Emmanuel de Rohan de Polduc (1725-97) (dedicatee)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: formerly folded in two
45.5 x 58.1 cm (image)
47.4 x 61.6 cm (platemark)
38.2 x 58.1 cm (neatline)
49.2 x 63.4 cm (whole object)
Printed Title:
DÉFENSE DE RHODES / PAR LE GRAND-MAITRE VILLIERS- DE L’ISLE-ADAM CONTRE SOLIMAN II. [bottom centre, below view, to each side of the coat of arms of Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc (18 April 1725-14 July 1797), Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1775-1797)]
Additional text:
[bottom left, below dedication:] Le Tableau Original appartient à Madame la Marquise de Trémauville.
Dedication:
[bottom, below title, to each side of the coat of arms:] Dedié à S.A.E. Monseigneur de Rohan de Poldux, / Grand-Maître de Malte, Prince du Goze, de Tunis et Tripoli &c. &c. / Par Son très-humble et très-Obéissant Serviteur L’Epine.
Annotations:
George III heading: [the print lacks standard George III heading text; black pencil inscription, possibly nineteenth or early twentieth century, verso, bottom left:] G3 I/4 Military. Rhodes 1522. Portfolio No 3.
Other annotations: (Recto) [black pencil, bottom left:] CM [i.e. Cumberland Maps] I 4. (Verso) [black pencil, bottom right centre:] 1522. [left, under backing paper, in same hand as old heading?:] I/4 Military Rhodes / Port Folio No 3 / G3; [below this last inscription a large numeral ‘2’]
George III catalogue entry:
Rhodes Vue de la Defense de Rhodes par le Grand Maitre Villiers de l’Isle Adam, contre Soliman II, (1522) peinte par H. Corneille Vroom, dessinée par I.B. Hilair, et gravée par l’Epine.
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
Annotation: [Ink:] Vue de la Defense de Rhodes, par le Grand-Maitre Villiers de l’Isle Adam, contre Soliman II: peinte par H. Cornille Vroom, dessinée par J.B. Hilair, et gravée par l’Epine. / Portfolio N.o [black pencil:] 3 ….. 2 Table – [black pencil, in a modern hand:] Foreign History Pf In Oversize. [red ink, bottom left:] Rhodes 1522.
Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a scrolled ‘W’ below.
Size: 48.2 x 33.2 cm (sheet).
Subject(s)
Ródos, South Aegean, Greece (36°22ʹ59ʺN 28°13ʹ35ʺE)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
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