Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
Siege of Verrua, 1625
published 1625Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A) | Scale: 1:9,000 approx. | RCIN 722015
A high oblique view of the siege of Franco-Savoyarde-held Verrua Savoia by the Spanish army, commanded by Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Duke of Feria (1 September 1587-1634) and Captain Don Gonzalo de Cordoba from 10 August to 17 November 1625 resulting in a Franco-Savoyarde victory. The Thirty Years War (1618-48). Oriented with north to top.
In 1625 the Duke of Savoy had signed an alliance with France against Spain and Austria. The Duke of Feria lifted the siege of Verrua on 17 November 1625. Bianchi explains, in the text under the dedication explains that he engraved/etched the map from sketches made in the field by military engineers, in particular, the engineer Giuseppe Barca. It shows the situation up to 9 October 1625, with the trenches and encampments of the besieging army, about six weeks before the siege was lifted.
Giuseppe Barca (active 1625) (cartographer)
Giovanni Paolo Bianchi (fl. 1617-54) (publisher) [bottom right:] Gio: Paolo Bianchi.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: two fold lines; right, above centre, small piece missing; another small piece missing from the left centre of the mount. Remains of Mount Type A; no gilt edges. It looks as if the adhesive used for the mount has adhered to another image, fragments of which have been left glued to the verso, presumably when it was lifted off the print
Scale: 1:9,000 approx. Scale bar: Scala de passi 300 andanti [48 mm =].
48.4 x 40.9 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
50.1 x 37.3 cm (mount)
Printed title:
None
Dedication:
[bottom right, in cartouche, under coat of arms of Giovanni Battista Caravaggi, bottom right:] Al Mto. Ill.e Sig.r mio Oss.o Il Sig.r Gio: Batta Carauaggi, Capitano d’Infanteria Italiana / per S. M.taCattca nel Terzo del Ill.mo Sig.r Mro di Campo Caua:er Petchio / Fra tutti i disegni, che sin` hora si sono ueduti di Verrua assediata dall’ armata di Spa / gna il migliore e’ giudicato il presente per esser` in pianta con le giuste misure, es fat / to dall’Ingeniere Giuseppe Barca intendentiss.o mentre era al Campo in falto, doue for / mo` lo schizzo; che peruenuto mi alle mani ho cercato intagliandolo in rame di / terminarlo, e compirlo, nel miglior modo, ch’io ho potuto, e dedicarlo poi a V.S. / M. Il.e la quale per l’ufficio che tiene, et lo studio c’hà fatto con gl’ Ingenieri militari / so’ esser alietanto uaga di uedere bene spiegato lo sito del Campo di S. M.ta, quanto io desi / deroso di farmi conoscere dal mondo per suo singular Ser;e Ecol fine humilm.te bacio à V.S / M. Ill.e le mani. Milano à 9. Ottobre 1625 / D.V.S.M.to Ill.e Devott.mo Ser.re Gio: Paolo Bianchi
Additional text:
[top left, in cartouche, a key, A-I, K-U, to the batteries and other military features shown in the view:] CAMPO DEL RE CATTOLICO / SOTTO VERRVVA
Annotations:
George III heading: Verua August 1625.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top, right of centre, red pencil:] 1/143 [and, black pencil:] I/[4?].
George III catalogue entry:
Verua Pianta di Verua assediata dall’ Armata di Spagna 1625, da Giuseppe Barca Ing.re intagliata da G.P. Bianchi 1625.
Subject(s)
Rocca, [Verrua Savoia district], Piedmont, Italy (45°10ʹ28ʺN 08°05ʹ56ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
Mark McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2850
S. Thion, French armies of the Thirty Years’ War, Havertown PA 2013, p.18
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
