Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
View of the siege of Lérida, 1647 (Lleida [Lérida], Catalonia, Spain) 41°37ʹ00ʺN 00°37ʹ19ʺE
1647 or laterEtching; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges right and bottom | 29.3 x 41.8 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 723073
A middle oblique view of Lleida [Lérida] besieged between 12 May and 17 June 1647 by the French, commanded by Louis II de Bourbon-Condé (duc d'Enghien; 8 September 1621-11 December 1686), resulting in the raising of the siege on 17 June in the face of the imminent arrival of a Spanish relief army. Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Oriented with north-west to top.
The print shows the lines of circumvallation which had been abandoned just six months before by Harcourt and which the Spanish had failed to destroy. The siege was a bloody affair and many of the French were killed. The Spanish governor of Lérida showed great courtesy to his besiegers, sending them lemonade and refreshments after every bout of fighting. The citadel, built on solid rock, proved to be impregnable. Several streets are named and the towns of Rossello (Rosselló 41°41ʹ37ʺN 00°35ʹ43ʺE) and Alguayre (Alguaire 41°44ʹ13ʺN 00°35ʹ04ʺE) are marked to the north.
François Collignon (c.1610-87) (etcher)
Horatio Marinari (active 1634-56) (etcher) [bottom left, along base of key cartouche:] Francesco Collignon fecit in S.to Thomasso imperione,: et Horatio Marinaro nella Vale Roma sc con licen de supi
Subject(s)
Army-FranceWatermark: Print: crown with six-pointed star above, in a circle. Mount: none.
Condition: slight creases and brown discolouration to map and mount
29.3 x 41.8 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
40.2 x 51.2 cm (mount)
Printed title:
PIANTA DI LERIDA ASSEDIATA DAL’ SER.MO PRIN.PE DI CONDE / Vice Re et General.mo del Re di Francia, in Catalonia, et fu assediata a li 10. di Magio. 1647. [top centre, in banderole]
Additional text:
[bottom left, in cartouche, a key, A-I, K-T, V, X, to the bastions and gates of Lerida and the French camps and batteries.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Lerida 10 May 1647.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, black pencil:] 1647; [top left, black pencil: the old heading]. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Lerida Pianta di Lerida assediata dal Principe di Condé ali 10 di Magio 1647: da F. Collignon et H. Marinaro.
Subject(s)
Lleida [Lérida], Catalonia, Spain (41°37ʹ00ʺN 00°37ʹ19ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Martin, Histoire de France depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’en 1789, Paris 1859
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3197
Page revisions
25 May 2024
Current version