The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Hesse-Kassel, 1762
PLAN / de la premiere partie / des Operations faites / par l’armée alliée contre / l’armée française / en 1762
1761 or laterEngraving and etching; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of papers; joined; hand coloured | Scale: 1:195,400 approx. | RCIN 733059
Any explanatory text to the numbers and references on the map which may exist is missing. The geographical coverage extends from Münden in the north to Homberg in the south, and from Fritzlar in the west to Spangenberg in the east.
Examples of Dumont de Venemont's work are preserved in the Marburg Archives (HstAM Karten WHK 26/106, 109, 110a) and these include encampment plans of this area which may have been used in the compilation of this map. The written explanation to his manuscript plan of the Battle of Wilhelmsthal (24 June 1762) in the Marburg Archives states that 'Comme il est permis a peu de personne, de léver les Plans, il est bon que je prévienue que ce Plan n'est proprément qu'une Copie d'une partie de la Carte, de la Roziere, sur lequel dessin, j'ai marqué les differentes positions que j'ai pû voir queles Armées aient prise; pendant cest Surprise.'
Although he is referred to as 'Captain' in the old catalogue, he was in 1762 a Lieutenant: and he signs himself 'Lieut. du genie' on the manuscript maps. It is possible, if not probable, that this map of Hesse-Kassel has also been based on the map by de la Roziere (RCINs 733010,11), and augmented by Dumont de Venemont's own observations and published at a later date when he had been promoted to Captain, which rank he gives in the dedication to this map. The landgrave of Hesse, to whom this map is dedicated, was Frederick II (1720-85), who was Landgrave from 1760 to 1785. He married Mary, a daughter of George II, on 28 June 1740; the Duke of Cumberland was his proxy at the wedding.
Dedication: [bottom left, in cartouche, with a portrait of the Landgrave of Hesse:] Dédié à S. A. S. Monseigneur / Le Landgrave Regnant de Hesse / par Son tres humble et tres fidel Serviteur / Dumont de Venemont / Son Capit. Ing.r
Condition: five fold lines; creased.
WC Mayr (active 1745-85) (engraver) [bottom left, on foot of cartouche pedestal:] W.C. Mayr sculp.
Dumont de Venemont (active 1762?) (cartographer and publisher) [bottom left, below dedication:] Dumont de Venemont.
Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1720-85) (dedicatee)
Watermark: Unclear: [C & I HONIG]
Condition: five fold lines; creased
Scale: 1:195,400 approx. Scale bars: Echelle d'une demi-mil d'allemagne de 15 au degrès [75 mm = 2 unspecified divisions]; d'une lieu de france de 25 au dègres [91 mm = 4 unspecified divisions].
58.5 x 99.1 cm (neatline)
59.5 x 100.0 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
60.0 x 100.4 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PLAN / de la premiere partie / des Operations faites / par l’armée alliée contre / l’armée française / en 1762. [bottom left, in cartouche representing a stone monument, with a pedestal, on which the title is engraved and on which recline two lions, supporting a ruined obelisk, on which the dedication is engraved; the whole embellished with artefacts of war: armour, firearms and flags]
Dedication:
[bottom left, in cartouche, with a portrait of the Landgrave of Hesse:] Dédié à S. A. S. Monseigneur / Le Landgrave Regnant de Hesse / par Son tres humble et tres fidel Serviteur / Dumont de Venemont / Son Capit. Ing.r
Annotations:
George III heading: Encampments in Hesse-Cassel 24 June - 20 Aug. 1762.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil:] a.17; [left centre, black pencil:] XVII/21-2.
George III catlogue entry:
Hesse-Cassel Plan de la premiere partie des Operation faites par l’Armée Alliée contre l’Armée Francoise en 1762: avec leurs Campemens sepuis le 24 Juin jusqu’au 26 Aout 1762: par le Capitaine Dumont de Venemont Eng.r gravé par Mayr. 2 feuilles. [the same entry appears under the heading Encampment.]
Subject(s)
Hesse, Germany
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
